Tag Archives: parental guilt

Self-Care: Taking Care of You; Caring for Your Child

March 13, 2013 / by / Life with Bob

Self-Care? What’s that? Self-care is a term I learned while in graduate school studying mental health counseling. it means taking care of yourself. Sounds simple, but it’s not. So much of our focus as parents of children with mental illness … Continue reading →

Stigma Surrounding Psychiatric Medication

May 11, 2012 / by / Life with Bob

It’s dark when I pull into the parking lot. I’m nervous–will he have what I need? Will the price have gone up? What if I can’t get it? How will I get through tomorrow–the next day, the day after that–if … Continue reading →

Should People With Mental Illness Have Children?

March 19, 2012 / by / Life with Bob

Generally speaking, I avoid public discussion of religion and politics. Not because I fear offending someone (I do that just about every time I open my mouth), but because such conversations usually irritate me to the point of pulling out … Continue reading →

Small Steps Helpful When Siblings Compete With Mentally Ill Child for Parents’ Attention

November 29, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

Years ago, as a Girl Scout, I went camping at a theme park set in the “old west.” One of the attractions was a candy store that made fresh saltwater taffy. We got to watch as a huge batch of … Continue reading →

Parent Guilt, Frustration Responsible for Dreams of Abusing Mentally Ill Child?

October 14, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

Sometimes, my frustration at Bob gets the better of me, and I hit him. Or pull his hair, or pinch him, or kick him, or any of a number of physically abusive gestures. Fortunately, he’s usually asleep during these attacks–and … Continue reading →

Odd Man Out–Mental Illness and Family Dynamics

June 24, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

Bob came home last night after spending a week at his father’s house. There were no ticker-tape parades or confetti. We usually try to keep his returns low-key because of his problems with transitions, but last night felt different, because … Continue reading →

Irritability Isn’t Just for Kids

April 7, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

Let’s talk about irritability. Our children suffer irritability because of their psychiatric conditions. But I’m not talking about their irritability–I’m talking about mine.

Family Survival Roles

March 31, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

You may have heard of the five “survival roles” often taken on by alcoholic families–Chief Enabler, Hero, Scapegoat, Lost Child, and Mascot. Sharon Wegsheider-Cruse is credited with identifying these roles within families living with chemical dependency in 1976. I learned … Continue reading →

“Being” the Parent

March 15, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

My sister and (soon-to-be-ex) brother-in-law told their oldest daughter, my 9-year-old niece, they are getting a divorce. My sister and the girls will move into a duplex; their dad will stay in the house. It’s an amicable situation (at least, … Continue reading →

Blended Families and Children with Mental Illness (1 of 2)

January 19, 2011 / by / Life with Bob

One of the things I have tried hardest to avoid is having a house divided. Regardless of the differences in our DNA, I wanted our family to function as one cohesive unit. But lately, despite my best efforts, one of … Continue reading →