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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 Having a Relationship With God?

man on top o a mountain
Relationship With God? If someone were to ask me about my relationship with God I’d have to say that it is both personal and active. Personal because I believe God knew me even while I was being formed inside my mom’s womb; active because good relationships are not passive. People assume that because I believe…

Why Bother Getting Along With Our Adult Children?

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Our Adult Children Though at first I was uncertain and fearful about becoming a mom, the second I cradled our first born in my arms, I felt something fierce and tender at the same time; my heart was transformed into the heart of a mom.  Motherhood is complex. No matter how old our offspring get,…

Why Bother Knowing What We Think About Our Mothers?

Thinking About Our Mothers Our moms have a long lasting effect on our lives. Mine is dead and gone, but that does not mean she’s forgotten. What I think about her and how I think about her still matters because thinking, even about a parent who is dead, affects our words and actions. My expectations…

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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