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Longing for Spock-Suppressed Emotions?
“Just snap out of it!” What psychiatrist would ever prescribe that treatment for depression? One did. Lucy charged Charlie Brown five cents for that advice. Sadly, we know that it’s not possible...
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Faith-stretching
Silly Putty Stretched Faith How strong is your amusement-park faith? Mine ended at the mammoth roller coaster. I’d go on any ride except that one. Until our friend, Ed increased my faith in that ride....
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Run
“Cherish the moment,” said our seven-year-old son. Chris stared across the water gazing at Tom Sawyer Island. His first visit to Disney World captivated him. Even a child could appreciate the serene...
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Whatever!
Long before Twitter, teenagers spoke their own language. Adults didn’t adopt their expressions. But, parents clearly understood their child’s messages. Especially when they were conveyed in grunts or...
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Strength to Endure
Chris: Earliest Weight Lifting Our son beamed as he pointed to the broken drum head hanging on his wall. “Why are you smiling, Rob? We paid good money for that.” “Not everyone can drum so hard they...
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Not Abandoned
Do you feel you’ve been left to suffer alone? Has no one come alongside you to help you parent a child with mental illness (MI)? When a loved one dies, friends and relatives flock to the home of the...
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Windows: A Source of Peace and Contentment?
Until then, only snakes and dentists scared me. One snowy night in December, I felt fear unlike never before. Decades ago, several of my girlfriends joined me as I babysat two children. It was New...
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Wasted Wondering
Would you ever hop in a car without knowing your destination? I have. Our family used to have elaborate road rallies. We’d pair up with a partner and hop in a car, not knowing the destination or...
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Gone, but Not Gone
Here’s what I have to say to my illness. Wretched multiple sclerosis (MS), You may have whittled down my ability to teach. You may have invaded my brain with countless lesions. Making it difficult for...
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The Wrong Way?
Is it wrong to keep your child’s mental illness (MI) a secret? Friends or relatives may offer the common social inquiry: “How’s …?” or “What’s new with …?” You wonder: Does she really want to know...
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Encouragement
What would help you through the day? No matter what your situation, my guess is that you could use some encouragement. That’s what I’ve needed while raising a child with mental illness (MI). I...
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Searching for Beauty
What can you do when darkness has shrouded your heart? In the secret places of your mind, are you groping in the dark? Are you squinting to find even a glimmer of hope? Are you straining your eyes to...
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Banish Worries
I love ‘but.’ It’s a powerful word to declare moving day on worries and cares. The Psalmist loved using it. It helped him focus on Someone bigger than his problems. He deliberately shifted his focus...
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How to Get Through It
How would you describe the insurmountable problems facing you? One mother raising a child with mental illness (MI) said, “It’s like a tunnel in the mountains: you can’t go around it; you have to go...
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Waiting for the Payoff
What’s the point of all we do? No one thanks us for showing unconditional love to our child who has mental illness (MI). No one knows our heartache. Or our loneliness. What keeps us going? How do we...
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No Shame
How do you feel when you’re at a gathering and parents begin bragging about their kids? A mom raising a child with mental illness (MI) might not feel comfortable sharing achievements like, “My child...
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