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When You Don’t Want Mother’s Day to Come: 4 Ways to Prepare
This blog post is for moms who are estranged from their children; have a strained relationship; whose child is incarcerated, has a mental illness, struggles with an addiction or gender identity issue, or sosme other heartbreaking issue. Mother’s Day is painful for them. It is not a day she looks forward to. The whole week leading up to that day social media throws constant reminders at her. It keeps pinching her wound. What can a hurting mom do? This post includes 4 ways she could prepare for another hard Mother’s Day from a mom who’s been there and understands.
If Valentine’s Day Hurts
Valentine's Day is this Tuesday. For parents in pain over the behaviors and troubles of their kids, it can be a hard day. I know. I've been there. I understand how it reminds you...
Suicide: Parents Need to Know the Warning Signs
Yesterday my husband and I participated in an Out of the Darkness Walk, a fundraiser sponsored by the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (afsp). It got me to thinking . ....
Loving a Prodigal
Welcome today's guest blogger, my dear friend and mom of a former prodigal, Judy Douglass. She writes from years of experience, a heart of compassion and much wisdom. "Does...
How to Keep Your Sanity When You’re Child’s Making You Feel Like You’re Losing It
Today was a beautiful day for a bike ride. My husband attached our new bike rack to the car and we were off with some friends for a relaxing morning. The flat, shady trail was...
A Lesson from Aspen Trees
I write to hurting, brokenhearted parents; parents whose dreams for their children have dried up and blown away in the wind. These moms and dads have experienced many of their...
Helping Parents Deal with Difficult Emotions During the Holidays
There's plenty to be fearful about when you love a son or daughter, or grandchild, who struggles with potentially life-altering issues: substance abuse, self-injury, anorexia or...
A Christmas Prayer for Parents with Broken Hearts
I've thought a lot about this blog as Christmas draws near. I wondered what I could offer you today - you whose son is an addict; you whose daughter has an eating disorder; you...
A Christmas Surprise for Brokenhearted Parents
I like surprises. Life is full of them, especially for parents – some are good, some not so good. Our children keep us on our toes, more so the older they get. We never know what...
Can Parents in Pain Really Celebrate the Holidays?
Can you remember when a special event was ruined for you because of something bad that happened? Maybe it was your birthday. Maybe it was Christmas. I remember when this happened...
Can Parents in Pain be Thankful?
Are you a parent in pain? Be honest. Do you feel thankful? On my darkest days, I didn't. Does the mention of the word thankful make you want to run and hide? When your heart's...
Gratitude for a Grievous Gift
Welcome Judy Douglass, today's guest blogger. My phone rang at 2 a.m., jarring me awake. I had been asleep for two hours in my hotel room, 1,000 miles from home. Not again, I...
8 Ways for Parents in Pain to Be Emotionally Healthy
I was a mess. My daughter was living on the streets, sleeping in parks and friend's cars, out of control in her alcohol and drug abuse. Angry and grief-stricken, embarrassed and...