family
Dear Mother: A Letter
There are certain days and times that are virtually guaranteed to bring about complicated, confusing, and contradictory emotions for many. Without fail, Mother’s Day is one of them. A day that was created to honor the unsung heroism of everyday mothering has deeper implications for those with difficult mother-child relationships. Parents who are unable…
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A Covid Thanksgiving
What a strange, strange year this has been. Who could have imagined that as we prepare for what is typically the most traveled-for holiday in the United States, we would be more focused on setting up Zoom calls and washing our masks than making a connecting flight? And who knew that for some of…
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Finding Connection
Public service announcement: It is normal to long for connection. Take another look at that last sentence: It is normal to long for connection. Healthy, even. Foundational to what it means to be human. And also, a profoundly painful longing when it goes unfulfilled. I am often inspired to write about themes…
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Show Yourself: A Journey to Self-Love
Last week, I told you about my big adventure of 2019: writing a book. Completing The Gaslighting Recovery Workbook has been an amazing, intense, and sometimes overwhelming process. A few days ago, I went on an adventure of another sort: taking two 4-year-olds to see Frozen 2. (If you don’t think that was an adventure,…
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Grief in the Season of Joy
Everywhere you look, the signs are there: The holidays are here. Turkeys, holly berries, lights, and snowmen are showing up in every store – and on some front lawns – as we roll into the season of joy. At least, it’s supposed to be a season of joy, or so we are told. …
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Entering the Holidays with Self-Compassion
Halloween has ended, and the holiday season is upon us. We are entering the time of turkey dinners, festive lights, hot chocolate, and family guilt trips – are you ready? For adults from narcissistic or emotionally immature families, the holidays can be a difficult time of year. November is filled with talk of gratitude,…
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The Highly Sensitive Person in an Emotionally Immature Family
This week has been a busy and fulfilling one! We had the final session of the fall cycle of Walking on Eggshells, and celebrated our members’ accomplishments. I finished round 1 of edits on my super secret but very exciting writing project. And I listened to a great podcast about the life of a Highly…
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The Umbrella Academy, part 2: The Power of Connections
*Spoiler alert!!* This article is part two of a two-part series that will explore characters in The Umbrella Academy, a television show adapted from an original comic by Gerard Way. Season 1 is currently streaming on Netflix. If you plan to watch the show, be warned! Here there be spoilers. In part 1 of…
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The Umbrella Academy Part 1: Adult Children of Narcissists (with Superpowers!)
*Spoiler alert!!* This article is part one of a two-part series that will explore characters in The Umbrella Academy, a television show adapted from an original comic by Gerard Way. Season 1 is currently streaming on Netflix. If you plan to watch the show, be warned! Here there be spoilers. Spoilers spoilers spoilers…
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You Deserve to Take Up Space
On July 7, 2019 the United States Women’s Soccer team won their fourth World Cup in eight years. Their hard-earned victory has sparked many conversations. The appalling pay discrepancy between the men’s and women’s teams has been a frequent flyer. Another is the now iconic image of co-captain Megan Rapinoe throwing her arms out…
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