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5 Tips for Surviving the Holidays for Parents in Pain
Parents in pain because of a prodigal child dread the holidays. Sad, anxious and uncertain of what to expect, they struggle to make it until January 2nd. In this blog post, a mom who has experienced the struggle herself shares 5 practical tips that helped her and her husband survive the holidays in better shape than they might have otherwise. When they put these tips into practice they no longer dreaded the season. One of her tips could help you, even if you aren’t a parent!
Dear Hurting Parent, I Wish You Enough
I did not write this story. Someone sent it to me many years ago, but I don't know the source. Because of the impact on me, I saved it. Now I'm compelled to share the story once...
Can Parents in Pain Still be Grateful?
When a child suffers, their parents do too. When their suffering takes the form of substance abuse, mental illness, self-harm, suicide attempts, incarceration, or some other...
Parents with Broken Hearts Can Feel Crazy!
For years I lived my life in excrutiating emotional pain due to the self-destructive choices and struggles of one of my daughters. She suffered with mental health challenges and...
Advice From a Parent Coach: Natural Consequences Can Bring Change
Welcome guest blogger, certified parent and life coach Cathy Taughinbaugh. Cathy provides support for families who struggle with substance use. In this blog post she writes about...
A Parent’s Prayer on Hard Days
If you've been on a long, uphill journey with your child and today is a hard day, you've probably run out of ideas of how to pray. I did. Often my best prayer was the simplest,...
How Can Parents in Pain Correct Stinking Thinking?
Are you a parent who suffers from stinking thinking? Do you beat yourself up believing you must have done a terrible job because of how your child turned out? They abuse...
Defining Moments in Parenting
I trudged into my 12-year-old daughter’s bedroom after we’d had yet another argument to the shocking discovery of self-inflicted cuts up and down both of her forearms. My stomach...
Learning to Respond When Your Child Practices Self-Harm by Kirsten Panachyda
A Learned Response “Mom, I need your help.” Nicholas’s face looked drawn and pale. His left sleeve was pulled up and his right hand cupped the skin of his forearm. I took a deep...
Pondering the Long and Hard Seasons of Parenting
Welcome today's guest blogger, one of our teammates, Beth Denhof. Several years ago, after a hard season in my marriage, I sat with a good friend and mentor as I staggered...
A Question for Parents of Prodigals to Consider
"Why did this happen? I can't believe it! Who can I talk to? Who could possibly understand what we're going through?" My husband had no anwers. Our 23 year old daughter was in...
Disappointed Parents: You Never Know What God Might be Up To
Life is full of surprises and disappointments. We never know what we're going get, like Forrest Gump’s momma said about a box of chocolates. Some surprises are good. We’re...
The Why Question: Finding Purpose for Pain
Why did this happen to me? Why didn’t God protect my daughter from developing an addiction or mental health problems? Why weren’t my prayers answered? When will this end? What...