He blasted out the door with the force of a rocket leaving the bounds of earth. Rocks flew as he hit the gas pedal to speed out of the driveway. The screen door now had the bottom broken out and hung by one hinge. The front door knob had left a hole in the wall when
Like most Americans, I’m saddened by the tragedy in Arizona this past weekend. I’m praying for families who have lost a loved one, and for those who are injured and healing. Also, I’m specifically praying for the parents of the shooter, Jared Loughner. My husband and I heard the news about the shooting later than
My son had been without medication for about a year. Despite that worrisome situation, he at least appeared to be stable. Then the decline started. This time it’s a slow setback, like lava moving down the side of a volcano. I know that at any moment it can burst into flames. So far, it hasn’t.
How often do you enter November with vision of an old-fashioned, family holiday? “This year will be different,” you say to yourself and any family members who will listen. I’ve given up this fantasy, and choose instead to be content with a Griswold Christmas. (If you haven’t seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, rent it now
(This is the beginning of a series about helping our loved ones and ourselves through the stresses of the holidays.) It’s that time of year again: The Holidays. The time from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day is probably the most stressful period in America. Expectations are high; reality is low. The pressure to perform has
The sudden burst of anger shook the entire household. Where did that come from? What triggered it?
It’s not your ill loved one ranting and raving; it is you.
Why? The human response when bad things happen – death, loss of job, disease, mental illness. Our inquiring minds go into hyper-drive seeking an explanation for the unexplainable.
Many family members get stuck in the Denial Stage, never moving on to really dealing with the mental illness of their loved one. Leaving Denial means believing this terrible thing has really happened. While in the Denial Stage, it is easier to think all the bad symptoms will magically go away, or there’s some other
Advent: Prepare for a notable person
Advent: “the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.” The Advent Season is preparing for an event, Christmas Day, and the celebration of the coming of a notable person. Preparation is often in the terms of baking cookies, buying gifts, decorating, and special gatherings. As much as I enjoy the special food and spending
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