 |
"The adage "Truth is stranger than fiction" is certainly applicable in the case of Mommy I'm Still in Here: Raising Children with Bi-polar Disorder. Kate McLaughlin paints a picture of what appears to be a typical Norman Rockwell family who wakes up one morning to find itself trapped within a surreal image by Salvador Dali. In the course of a few short years, both of the McLaughlin teenagers find their lives overcome by severe cases of adolescent onset bipolar disorder. Despite a history of mental illness in the family, the author describes her shock as the lives of her near perfect daughter and later her son morph into something quite bizarre before her eyes. "
"In this emotional journey, I felt like a friend and confidant rather than an onlooker as I accompanied McLaughlin into the depths of her children's rapid-cycling mania and depression. Her vivid descriptions of the physical and psychological changes that occurred, adapted from a personal journal, are as terrifying as any horror movie—almost beyond imagination, yet true. For those dealing with bi-polar disorder in their own family, the details of day-to-day challenges in dealing with doctors, therapists and issues relating to medicines will prove particularly helpful. Mommy I'm Still in Here is also an excellent resource for anyone working with adolescents."
—Donna Satterlee Ross, co-editor of That's Life with Autism: Tales And Tips for Families With Autism, for MyShelf.com
"Mommy I'm Still In Here is a true testament to your family's strength.a positive light to inspire others."
—Maria Shriver
"Mommy I'm Still In Here is sad and touching. Kate McLaughlin is a great writer and. a wonderful mom."
—Rosie O'Donnell
"It is wonderful that Kate McLaughlin is using her family's story to promote awareness of bipolar disorder and put an end to the stigma that so often accompanies it."
—Tipper Gore
book suggested by Kate McLaughlin
|
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Google
Yahoo
Technorati
Co-Parenting a Teen in Crisis
Work as a team, post-divorce
Posted to Resource Articles by Kate McLaughlin on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 4:04pm
When my teen-age son began smoking and drinking, my gut told me this wasn't experimentation but signs of a deeper problem. I monitored him closely, talked to his teachers, friends — even his friends' parents, and sought help from professionals. Nothing worked; I felt powerless.
My husband was not supportive. He thought our son's behavior was normal teenage boy stuff. Feeling unsupported and angry, I stopped communicating. Neither of us was emotionally available or honest. As a parenting team, we failed to live up to the basics of a healthy relationship and our son suffered. How can you solve a problem like this?
- •Take back control.
- •Work as a team, not a couple.
- •Talk openly about what needs to be done for your child.
- •Don't blame each other or discuss your relationship.
Even though two parents are no longer a couple, they can still come together in a healthy way to care for a troubled child for whom they both feel love and concern.
Years ago, my eldest was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her father and I were devastated and overwhelmed. Despite the severity of the situation, we held firm to a steadfast sense of control. We worked as a team and adopted a "divide and conquer" attitude. We talked to each other as often as necessary, setting aside topics that might intrude on the issue at hand, and adjusted our individual schedules to accommodate our daughter's newly emerging needs.
Whether you are still navigating the treacherous trail of divorce, or have the final decree in hand, you need to work together as a team, regardless of your personal feelings about your ex. When your child's welfare is at stake, you need to take certain steps:
read more »