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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 Terminating Our Relationship With Worry?

woman at the beach with a hat
Terminate I used to worry when I wasn’t worried. Without worry on my mind, I thought I was being negligent, forgetful, or that I was guilty of slacking off.  Worry changed my life, but not for the better. By the time I was fourteen, my relationship with Worry was established, reliable, constant and familiar. As…

Why Bother Forgiving Dad?

Terese Luikens' dad
Forgiving Dad Kids don’t think about forgiving their Dad because as kids we think our dads are almost as great and as perfect as God. That was how I felt. But when we grow into adults we realize that our dad’s were not as great nor as perfect as we’d thought. That’s what happened to…

Why Bother Admitting Our Mistakes?

illustration of 2 kids on a balcony near the sea
Our Mistakes Ever make a mistake? Ever make the same mistake more than once? I have. Ever hear that we can learn from our mistakes? I actually believe this statement because I’ve learned a thing or two from my erroneous ways. Becoming aware of my blunders, blotches, and bungles and then learning something from them…

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