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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 Listening to Your Body?

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Listening to Your Body There was a time when all of us had a very good relationship with our body. When we were babies and experienced hunger, cold or exhaustion, we’d wail so someone would take care of our needs.  Now though, when we are hungry, tired or cold, we’ll push our bodies beyond their…

Why Bother Respecting Those in Charge?

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Those in Charge Those in charge do not have an easy row to hoe. More than likely, they have way more responsibilities than they should have to shoulder. Not only that, but those in charge usually start out with high hopes of how they want to change things, to make improvements, and change someone’s life,…

Why Bother Being Gracious to Strangers?

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Gracious to Strangers I’ve experienced what it is like to be a stranger. More than once in my life I was the new kid in the classroom, the new teacher in a school, or the new student in someone’s yoga class.  Nobody who I was and being unknown made me feel awkward, uncertain and vulnerable.…

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