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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 Wanting to Share Our Opinion?

Photo Of Women Talking To Each Other
Our Opinion It is not often when someone asks my opinion, but when they do, I’m delighted. I liken it to accepting an invitation to step a little deeper into my relationship with them. I do not take it lightly and tread softly on what I consider to be new territory between us.  In recent…

Why Bother Wanting to be Noticed?

kid riding a bicycle
Wanting to be Noticed My husband and I went out to dinner on Valentine’s Day. Since we were traveling, we did not make any reservations. When the hostess greeted us at the door and told us that the only available space was at the horseshoe shaped bar, we bellied up to the bar. Settling in…

Why Bother Wanting to be Loved?

mariage
Loved A very popular theme for movies, plays, poems, and songs is the theme of love. Without having to ponder very long or very hard I can think of the play and later the movie; Romeo and Julie; Love is a Many Splendored Thing; a song by Andy Williams and Love Love Me Do, by…

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