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For Terese Luikens, a picture-perfect childhood it was not. Frequent moves. An emotionally absent mother and an alcoholic father. Suicide.

The sixth of seven children, Terese grew up in an unstable and chaotic household—invisible to her mom yet cherished by her alcoholic dad, who took his own life when Terese was thirteen years old.

This heartfelt memoir documents the chain reaction of a tumultuous family history. From her stormy childhood to the far-reaching effects of her father’s suicide, Terese shares her inspiring journey to escape the shame of her past, find healing and love, learn to trust, and discover faith in a real and personal God.

Terese Luikens

Meet the Author

Writer Terese Luikens contributes articles for Mother Earth News, The Secret Place, Decision Magazine, The Upper Room, Hearts at Home, and the Epoch Times and publishes her own blog, Why Bother? A schoolteacher and a yoga instructor, Terese lives in Sandpoint, Idaho, with her husband and enjoys being mother to three grown sons and grandmother to her much-loved grandchildren.

Latest Blog Posts

Why Bother Considering Our Influencers?

crowd, men, women
Who we admire and why we admire them is an important consideration these days. The internet is flooded with self-made celebrities and with just a little click, we invite them into our lives.  Though we may never meet them, we “follow” them. Though we have no idea of who they truly are, we “like” them.…

Why Bother Cultivating Quiet?

Woman Sitting on Gray Rock Near Body of Water
Growing up, special times with Grandma included spending the night at her house with my cousin Julie. We’d stay in our Uncle Doug’s old bedroom which had a portable black and white television and a closet full of Grandma’s old clothes.  Julie and I would play dress up and watch cartoons to our hearts content.…

Why Bother Believing?

man on top o a mountain
Before I was very old, I had three strikes against me. First, I was a child of an alcoholic. Secondly, I was a suicide survivor. Finally, I lived in a single parent home. Not the best of circumstances for one to grow and thrive.           Struck Down, But Not Out Alcoholism and…

Blog Categories

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Communication
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Relationships
Family
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Mental Health
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Health
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Faith