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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 With Humor?

Humor? I am not a natural humorist, but this month my theme is humor because it will be an out of the box experience for me to explore. I enjoy a “good” laugh like I enjoy a “good” cry. Both have a way of resetting things inside my brain. But, I tend to have more…

Why Bother Thinking About the Whole Family?

The Whole Family Our family shapes us. During those formative years, beginning in infancy and ending when we finally fly the coop, we are influenced by our parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and god parents. They all touch our lives albeit in large or small ways. Once I gave some unsolicited advice to one…

Why Bother Remembering Grandmas?

Grandmothers We are better adults if we regard our childhoods instead of disregarding them because our childhoods shape us. It is during our formative years, beginning in infancy and ending when we finally fly the coop, that we form habits. Our habits were strongly shaped by those who  raised us.  Our parents and siblings might…

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