Blog
The Gift of a Prodigal: One Mom’s Perspective
As difficult as this journey has been for Judy Douglass, God has enabled her to see her wayward son as an incredible gift. “God has used him to reveal weaknesses I didn’t know I had—and strengths I didn’t realize I possessed.” In today’s blog post, my guest blogger shares how even though her son brought much pain into her life. she wouldn’t trade the experience for anything because of the greater value of what God gave her through him.
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...
What Can Broken-hearted Parents do in the Face of Deep Disappointment?
Today’s post is from author, speaker, Christine Caine. Her message on disappointment was spot on for what parents in pain struggle with. Parents whose children break their...
I Don’t Need Rescuing: Can God Take Care of Me?
There are people in the world who like to be the rescuers of others (many parents of addicts and those who struggle with mental health challenges do this really well). There are...
Easter’s Truths for Parents in Pain: Comfort and Hope
photo cred. unsplash Where do you find comfort when your heart’s been broken? When I was in deep, emotional pain over my daughter’s self-injury, substance abuse, and mental...