I find myself in a boot because I broke a bone in my foot. Not exactly something I want to deal with right now but life happens and we often have to deal with things we didn't plan. I handle things like this pretty well most of the time but sometimes, I get weary and have less patience with myself. We are often generous with everyone but ourselves and I want to be sure that as you enter this Mother's Day weekend, you show respect to the woman in the mirror. Treat her like a best friend. She deserves all the love and kindness she can get.

@Valerie Balsama, we’re really glad you’re here. This is a space where you don’t need to pretend everything is perfect or have all the answers figured out. Life can feel overwhelming, uncertain, and heavy at times — and you’re not alone in that. Here, you’re surrounded by people who genuinely want to support one another without judgment. Small steps matter, and sometimes simply showing up is the hardest and most important step of all. You don’t need to have the perfect words. Just come as you are. When you’re ready, we’d love to hear from you:✨ What are you looking forward to most in a new relationship?

Hello, I was encouraged to write something to the Community section. I'm new and quite nervous to post things so publicly. We live in a small, rural town where gossip can do wonders (in that people care) as well as damage. I don't ever want to say something that makes it harder for our 3 angry children to heal and be open to talking with us again. I also never spend this kind of money on myself and we aren't rich people. We had 8 children. Our 22 year old died of cancer June 4, 2025, one day after our grandson's first birthday and 2 days before my birthday. Meagan was a uniquely positive person that focused on helping others as a 911 dispatcher and friend to so many. She was huge in our community. But her attitude made it easier to accept how God might be working through even this. One of our adult children got mad at us at the funeral and 2 brothers decided to join her in not speaking to us and assuming the worst about us. How can we know what is the problem or explain our perspectives if we can't talk? There is one child in the home and the other 3 adult children all have come to talk with us and understand things, but our angry daughter's home is where "whatever" can happen, so they go there instead of to us. The oldest prefers to stay out of all of it. Our family is so fractured right now, but honestly, we were starting to have some communication issues as they graduated every 2 years (I've been hard of hearing but now have cochlear implants so now can use the phone but struggle to know what to say if I call). I have struggled to accept their choices (living together, drinking, etc), and make small talk and I think that's something I have to work on from MY perspective, not to fix them. Our church, which we've been so committed to for so many years became horrendous when a new pastor determined to clean up membership roles just as our adult children were dealing with their sister dying. My husband as an elder fought against removing the 3 (now mad) children from the roles since they weren't attending there anymore, but IDK if they know that. We told the one who had a child, but the other 2 won't even talk.

I am so proud of myself. I have been stewing over how I'm actually going to talk with my daughter and how I'm going to be loving and welcoming with her so that we have a good conversation. (I was thinking I'd need some specific phrases etc. And today she called me on the phone! I have also been scouring the modules looking for help. And I found it in Nurture 6.1= FIXING FOCUSES ON THE PROBLEMS; ENCOURAGEMENT FOCUSES ON STRENGTHS! When I read that, I KNEW that I knew how to do that even with her!. What a breakthrough for me! So, my daughter was telling me that her husband does the laundry for them. "What a man!" I told her that he doesn't have to be macho. She told me more things and in response, I came up with a positive comment about every single thing she brought up. And we both we laughing and talking about the past and the future. She had told me early on in the conversation that she had only about 2 minutes to talk with me. But then SHE kept talking for the next 40 minutes. What a find the above phrase is. If this is the only thing I remember forever about this class, it will be well worth it! I've just struck gold!!! Thank you Catherine!