This is the testimony of a mom who has been part of a Hope for Hurting Parents support group for the last 5 years. She wanted to share her story to give you hope for yours. "I’m...
How to Navigate Through a Parenting Nightmare
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Learning to Love Well from the Mother of a Prodigal Son, Part 1
This is part 1 of a 2-part interview with Pam Jones Lanhart, the mom of an adult son who struggled with drug abuse. She's the director of Thrive! Family Support and author of...
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...
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...
Former Porn Addict, Now Mom, Shares How She Overcame Her Addiction, Part 2
Welcome Christy Adams as a guest blogger for me again this week. She offers hard-earned wisdom from personal experience on a difficult topic, pornography. When I was a young...
Former Porn Addict, Now Mom, Shares 6 Ways to Protect Your Child, Part 1
Today's post is a real life account about an issue that has become an epidemic among youth and young adults today—pornography. Adults of all ages also struggle with porn. This is...
Help For The Enabling Parent
“When Renee leaves our program she won’t be the same person. Even if she relapses, she’ll never be like she was before coming here. She’s going to learn everything she needs to...