Blog
A Good Goal and A Practical Tip When Your Child Has a Mental Illness
If you’re the parent of a child who suffers with a mental illness you may be like me, you struggle to know what to say on their bad days. When you look back – even to yesterday – you realize you’ve said the wrong thing, a lot. Why is this important? Does it really matter? What are those things we should never say and what can we say instead? In this blog a mom who’s blown it many times shares what she learned. It might help you the next time you’re tempted to say something you’ll regret later. It could make a difference for the future of your relationship. And that matters. A lot.
Am I Going Crazy?
"I hate you!" my 17-year old daughter shouted as she slammed her door. Another failure. Another long weekend of hanging out with a dangerous crowd. Lame excuses for her...
Defining Moments in Parenting
Defining moments change us—and not always in a welcomed way. Parents of troubled teens and adults know about this. I'm one of them. Our lives are fraught with defining moments of...
7 Lies of Suicide: A 14 year-old’s Goodbye Letter
Has your son or daughter struggled with suicidal thoughts? Have they made an attempt to end their life? My daughter has. If your answer to either of my questions was yes, then...
Parents: Let’s Talk About Suicide Part 3
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The 10th was World Suicide Prevention Day. The rest of this month I will continue to dedicate my blogs to this topic. Suicide is...
Parents in Pain and 9/11
Today, along with millions of Americans, I will reflect on the events of 9/11. The day is too important not to write about it. I remember where I was, what I felt, and what I...
Am I An Enabling Parent?
Sometimes, loving, caring parents are confused whether or not they’re enabling their child’s troublesome behaviors. Aren’t we simply showing love, giving grace, and being...
Can a Parent in Pain Reduce their Stress?
Stress. Most of us experience it in some form. Stress with our jobs, our finances, our health, politics, and sometimes with our extended families. Some of us are parents who have...
When a Parent Needs Comfort
When my husband placed our newborn daughter on my chest, I fell instantly, totally, and completely in love. In awe and wonder, I caressed her still-moist body as I examined her...
Embarassment and Shame Isolate Parents in Pain
As I have journeyed down the road of painful parenting with a child who has struggled with many troubles: addiction, self-harm, mental health issues, sexual trauma, and suicide...
Encouraging Words for Brokenhearted Parents
Today’s blog is a collection of quotes from my book, You Are Not Alone: Hope for Hurting Parents of Troubled Kids. It includes comments from our daughter Renee on boundaries. I...
A Dangerous Situation for Struggling Parents of Troubled Kids
Summer is here. I live in Florida an hour from the beach. There's danger in the waters and it's not always from a sea creature. We hear tragic reports of drownings from a...
7 Prayers for A Troubled Child
Sometimes parents don't know how to pray for their troubled children. We need help. Today's blog is a re-post of one written by my dear friend Judy Douglass. She's a mom who...