This time of year is one of the most challenging for me since my oldest son Alex passed away three years ago.  This will be my third Christmas without him here physically.  I know he is always with me, but that doesn’t stop the deep desire to have him back on earth and to be able to…

This time of year can be difficult when you have a child with mental illness or addiction.  Maybe you are wondering how things will go, since there can be varying degrees of unpredictability.  In the midst of so much uncertainty, the one thing you can do is to give yourself some certainty.   This can be quite…

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.   Whether you are grieving the loss of your child or grieving due to having a child with mental illness and/or addiction, this can be a difficult time filled with pain, sadness, unpredictability, stress, uncertainty. How can you get through this day, dedicated to gratitude and thanks, when you…

When you have a teen or adult child with mental illness or addiction, acceptance can help bring more peace. Acceptance doesn’t mean you need to agree with all of your child’s decisions or like what is happening.  Acceptance involves acknowledging the facts of the situation and not focusing your energy on why it shouldn’t be…

When you have a child with mental illness or addiction, it may feel like your entire world has been turned upside down.  Life is different now than it was prior to their illness and addiction.  They may seem like a different person. You may have a different relationship with them. You probably have different thoughts and struggles.  They…

As a parent, we feel like it is our job to fix everything for our child.  While some things we can fix, others we can’t.  If they have a mental illness or addiction, we may feel guilty because we are not able to fix it. No matter how hard we try, we can’t make them to…

I feel blessed for the opportunity to have been interviewed on 2 TV networks today!  It was a beautiful experience and I appreciated the opportunity to share my story to help others who are coping with the loss of a child on Mother’s Day or with having a child with mental illness and addiction. Spending the…

I feel blessed for the opportunity to have been interviewed on 2 TV networks today!  It was a beautiful experience and I appreciated the opportunity to share my story to help others who are coping with the loss of a child on Mother’s Day or with having a child with mental illness and addiction. Spending the…

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Whether you are grieving the loss of your child or grieving due to having a child with mental illness and/or addiction, this can be a difficult time filled with pain, sadness, unpredictability, stress, uncertainty. How can you get through this day?  Here are some things I have found helpful…

I’m so excited to announce that on Saturday May 18 I will be doing a book signing event at the Barnes and Noble in Fredericksburg, VA for my book Finding and Purpose Amidst the Tears: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction.  If you are in the…