*Today's blog is a re-post from Mark Merrill (markmerrill.com), originally posted on April 20, 2015. I believe they are relevant no matter how old your son or daughter is, and no...
9 Things Parents Should Never Say to Their Children
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what you can do
A Hurting Parent’s Survival Guide
Many parents and grandparents are just like me. They've experienced terrible, earth-shaking events with their children or grandchildren. They were a direct result of bad choices,...
Encouragement for Parents of Self-Harmers
Today I want to welcome author, Dr. Ryan Fraser to my blog. He's a dad, former MK (missionary kid), minister, professor, and counselor who has a heart for hurting parents. As a...
Help for Hurting Parents
I'm the mom of a daughter who is has struggled with mental health issues, addiction (alcohol and drugs), self-injury (cutting), suicidal thoughts and more. If your child deals...
Things to Remember When Your Child Has a Mental Illness
When your child is diagnosed with a mental illness it can feel overwhelming. You may become depressed and fearful not knowing what to expect or how to respond. I did. It was all...
Two Suggestions to reduce the Stigma of Mental Illness
When someone you love is diagnosed with a mental illness (major depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, PTSD, OCD) something very ugly tends to rear its head. I call it the...
Making a Change
Life is full of change, isn't it? Not all change is bad, either. I wanted to let you know about what I think will be a good change. In the next week or two my blog will be...
6 Tips When Mother’s Day Hurts
If your son or daughter struggles with addiction, mental illness, self-injury, an eating disorder, suicidal thoughts, is incarcerated or has other issues, then Mother's Day is...
Earthquake in Nepal has Message for Hurting Parents
When I heard about the terrible earthquake that hit Nepal and the growing death toll, I moaned. It hurt my heart. It's difficult to imagine that degree of suffering, loss, and...
Is Your Child in Need of Prayer?
Are you a parent or grandparent who lives with a broken heart due to the behaviors and choices of one or several of your children or grandchildren? They may be under eighteen and...
Parents Need to Stop Being So Hard on Themselves
You've been a good, loving, conscientious parent. You did the best you could. You thought you did it all right, you even took your child to church so they would believe in God...
5 Things Parents in Pain Want You to Know
Are you the parent or grandparent in pain from a broken heart? Is your pain from the choices, behaviors or struggles of your child or grandchild? Mental illness, addiction,...