Blog Archives
An Act of Love and Healing
A Legacy of Love teaches readers how to create a “Person-Centered Plan” (PCP), a living, breathing document that honors the uniqueness of their loved one and their individual needs.
What was the hardest thing to write about?
The hardest part of writing this book was sharing my personal story. Opening up about my own journey as a caregiver was both emotional and vulnerable, but I knew it was important. I wanted to offer an honest and heartfelt reflection, so others walking a similar path would feel seen, understood, and less alone.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
One of the most important messages I wanted to convey is that, as caregivers, we have an essential role in being a positive voice for our loved ones. Our advocacy, love, and dedication can profoundly shape their experiences and well-being. I also wanted to emphasize the importance of approaching caregiving with intention, presence, and deep respect for the unique person we are supporting.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
I hope readers walk away with the understanding that creating a Person-Centered Plan (PCP) is not just about organizing care—it’s an act of love and healing. Taking the time to truly see and honor the individual beyond the caregiving role allows for a deeper, more meaningful connection. Sometimes, we become so immersed in the responsibilities of caring that we forget to pause and appreciate the beautiful soul right in front of us. My hope is that this book helps caregivers shift from simply managing care to truly cherishing the person they are supporting.
Designing a meaningful care plan for your loved one with unique needs can be a life-changing gift—one that shapes their entire lifespan and journey. Whether you’re caring for a teen, a child, or an aging family member, this book shows you how to create a Person-Centered Plan (PCP) that caters to their individual strengths and preferences, enhancing their quality of life and making caregiving more fulfilling.
In this book, you’ll discover:Real-life stories of caregivers who transformed their approach with a personalized care plan.
Ways to recognize your loved one’s unique qualities to ensure their care is meaningful and effective.
Step-by-step strategies to build and adapt a care plan that evolves with your loved one’s needs.
Emotional insights through poems and reflections on the caregiving journey.
Practical advice to help you implement and follow through with your care plan.
You may be asking, “Can a plan really make a difference?” The answer is yes. A thoughtfully crafted Person-Centered Plan (PCP) is not just a tool—it’s a powerful way to offer care and compassion that truly honors your loved one’s unique journey. This book helps you become the guide your loved one needs, making their care not only more effective but also more meaningful. You take on the role of their voice in cases where speech may not be present.
Don’t wait for things to improve—take control of the caregiving journey today. Transform how you care, connect, and create a lasting impact on your loved one’s life.
A Legacy of Love for Caregivers
This book is more than just a guide; it’s a heartfelt letter to every caregiver who’s ever felt overwhelmed, alone, or unsure of what to do next. Jacquie Wilkinson’s A Legacy of Love lays out a gentle but firm framework for creating a “Person-Centered Plan” (PCP), a living, breathing document that honors the uniqueness of your loved one, whether they’re a child with special needs, a teenager in crisis, or an elderly parent. Through stories, templates, poems, and deeply personal reflections, the book makes its case: caring should be intentional, compassionate, and led by love.
What struck me first and stayed with me was how Jacquie’s voice comes through like a trusted friend. She doesn’t lecture. She tells stories. In Chapter 3, when she compares parenting a child with autism to landing in Alaska instead of your dream beach resort, I laughed out loud and then immediately teared up. That metaphor? It nails the feeling of being blindsided. And instead of sugarcoating, she says: yes, this isn’t what you planned, but it can still be beautiful. That balance of honesty and hope is rare. It kept me turning the pages.
There’s something powerful about the way she blends practical advice with raw emotion. She walks readers step-by-step through how to create a PCP, but she sandwiches it between stories of real parents like Sarah, who transformed her son Jack’s school experience with a few thoughtful changes. That part hit me. I’ve sat in those meetings, watched teachers misunderstand, and felt like I had no voice. Seeing how one well-made plan gave Jack peace? That was the kind of hope I didn’t know I needed.
And then there’s the poetry. I didn’t expect to cry reading a poem called “I Am the Mother of an Addict.” Because it’s not just about caregiving, it’s about grief, guilt, and that deep, aching love you feel even when things fall apart. The poems don’t feel tacked on, they feel earned. They remind us that caregiving isn’t just a checklist. It’s emotional labor, and it deserves to be seen.
This book isn’t for someone looking for cold, clinical advice. It’s for people who lead with their heart and want to feel less alone in the chaos. If you’re a parent, sibling, or adult child trying to care for someone you love and you feel like you’re constantly swimming upstream, read this. Let it ground you. Let it guide you. Honestly, even if you’re not a caregiver right now, there’s wisdom in here about empathy, patience, and what it really means to see someone. I’d hand this to anyone who wants to love better.
Pages: 45 | ASIN : B0DWXT3MP3
Just Love Them & Support Them
Parenting with Pride is a lifeline for parents navigating the journey of raising LGBTQ+ teens and is structured around four pillars: Embrace, Educate, Empower, and Love, with each chapter guiding readers through emotions, challenges, and growth. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Writing and journaling have always been a big part of who I am and how I express myself. I kept copious notes on all of the meetings with the dozens of professionals we worked with in those first 18 months, and having the escape of just pouring all of my thoughts and feelings onto a page was quite literally a life saver for me. As we landed on more solid ground I realized that I needed to share our story with all of its vulnerability and space for evolution so that others would realize they are not alone. I knew I could write something that was engaging and real in a way that could help so many people without shaming or isolating anyone. It was also important that there was space for reflection and prompts to help the reader really connect with where they are now and where they wish to be.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
I knew that in order to convey our experiences, to really honor what each of us went through and learned, I would need to put myself back in time. I would meditate and get really quiet so I could access all of the feelings and thoughts and then record them. It was particularly difficult writing about almost losing Connor to suicide, although the editing process zoomed out quite a bit from the gritty emotion of the first draft. If you read anything and thought “wow, that’s intense” or “that must have been so difficult, ” know that I felt it over and over again as I wrote and edited the book.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Oh my goodness, so many! The four pillars really helped me organize everything I wanted to share with readers in a way that I hope will help them remember. I think there are essentially four main ideas: 1. Embrace the messiness and the unknown. Embrace that there is no such thing as a perfect parent and that some of the best moments are found in owning our mistakes and modeling being human. 2. We ALL have biases, that is not a judgement call, and we are ALL capable of unlearning and evolving. 3. Learning to trust yourself and set healthly boundaries is so empowering, which then allows you the knowledge, space, and ability to empower your kids. 4. More than anything else in the world, our kids just need us to see them, hear them, and love them without conditions or spirit of transactionality.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
Your child, friend, or colleague sharing their sexuality or gender identity with you is a gift. It takes courage and vulnerability. Trust that they know who they are and just love them and support them.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
Your kid just came out to you, and amid the flurry of emotion or worry you might feel, you know you would do anything to protect their health and happiness. And you are not alone! Heather Hester, coach, advocate, and host of the #1 rated podcast, Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen, combines an honest retelling of her own son’s coming-out experience with wide-ranging research, conversations with dozens of professionals, and the unique experiences of other families to provide the ultimate guidebook for parents embarking on this journey.
In Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen, Hester provides parents and caregivers with four transformations that gently, but purposefully, walk them through the four pillars toward fully supporting and loving your LGBTQ+ child: Embrace, Educate (or Unlearn), Empower, Love.
With trustworthy information and an accessible, straightforward plan, Parenting with Pride provides actionable yet profound tools and mental shifts to help parents support their teens and themselves and to be a catalyst for change in their communities.
Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower, and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen
Parenting with Pride by Heather Hester is a lifeline for parents navigating the journey of raising LGBTQ+ teens. The book is structured around four pillars: Embrace, Educate, Empower, and Love, with each chapter guiding readers through emotions, challenges, and growth. Heather’s personal story as a mother of a gay teen is both raw and relatable. It’s a book that reassures you that you’re not alone while offering practical advice to love and support your child authentically.
Right off the bat, I was pulled in by Heather’s honesty. Her opening story about her son Connor’s coming out after a terrifying night where he went missing made my chest tight. It was such a real, imperfect moment of relief and love. That’s the tone of the whole book: compassionate, messy, and human. I could feel her struggle and determination in the early days of not knowing what to do but knowing she had to do better. It mirrored my own fumbling attempts to figure out how to support my kid.
Heather’s advice is practical but not preachy. The chapter about “embracing the journey” was an eye-opener. She talks about how parents need to accept their “movie reel” of what they thought their child’s life would be and let it go. I remember reading her list of “what not to say” and wincing because I’ve said some of those things. She gently guides you to shift your mindset without making you feel like a failure. That balance of tough love and encouragement is what makes this book so powerful.
What really stuck with me were the sections on educating yourself and leaning into discomfort. Heather lays out why unlearning biases is just as important as learning about LGBTQ+ issues. One part that hit hard was her reflection on how her son’s fear of rejection stemmed from things she didn’t even realize were hurtful. Like small comments, assumptions, and the culture they grew up in. It made me think about the little ways I might have made my own teen feel unseen. It’s not easy to sit with that discomfort, but it’s how we grow.
By the end, I was ready to embrace her final pillar: love. She explains that love isn’t just an abstract feeling but a daily practice. Loving unconditionally doesn’t mean you won’t mess up, but it means showing up anyway, learning from your mistakes, and being a safe space for your child. Her suggestions, like using humor to diffuse tension or practicing mindfulness, were simple but impactful. It reminded me that I’m still learning, just like my kid, and that’s okay.
I’d recommend this book to any parent with an LGBTQ+ child, whether you’re just starting the journey or further along. It’s also a great read for allies and educators who want to better understand and support these kids. It’s a guide, a mirror, and, most importantly, a reminder that love really does lead the way.
Pages: 243 | ASIN : B0CW4P9T42
The Child Catcher: A Fight for Justice and Truth
Andrew Bridge’s The Child Catcher is an intense and emotional exploration of the American institutional system’s failings, focusing on children. Through personal experiences, testimonies, and in-depth research, Bridge details his journey from being a boy in foster care to becoming a lawyer and advocate for children’s rights. The narrative zeroes in on his work with the notorious Eufaula Adolescent Center, a state-run facility in Alabama, highlighting cases of horrific abuse, neglect, and the system’s unwillingness to change. Bridge weaves together the stories of children trapped in broken systems, underscoring the injustices they endure.
What stands out most about this book is the raw honesty and vulnerability with which Bridge writes. I felt his personal struggle from childhood to adulthood, particularly when he shared about his time in MacLaren Hall, which is a polio hospital-turned-foster institution. Bridge relays facts and brings you into the nightmare of living in a place that’s full of isolation and violence. His writing in these moments feels uncomfortably close, like when he describes his first day in MacLaren and the sense of being forgotten. It’s emotional and gripping and makes you sit with the uncomfortable truth that these systems often harm the children they’re meant to protect.
The shift from a personal narrative to a professional one is seamless. His recounting of the Wyatt v. Stickney lawsuit that forced him into Eufaula is powerful. Bridge brings you inside the cold and bureaucratic machinery of the legal and mental health system where people, like a mental health commissioner with no qualifications, are tasked with making life-changing decisions for children. The anger and frustration Bridge feels is palpable when he details the failures of those in charge. The writing here is sharp and layered with a sense of justice being fought for but never quite achieved.
The story of David Dolihite, a lonely boy caught in Eufaula’s brutal system, broke my heart. The descriptions of David being drugged, manhandled, and isolated from everything familiar left a haunting image. Bridge doesn’t shy away from the ugliness. In one particularly disturbing passage, he recounts the boys in Eufaula mocking David as he’s dragged away. This pained a vivid picture of the cruelty these children face, not just from the staff but also from each other. It’s tough to read, but it’s necessary to understand the gravity of what these children endure.
The Child Catcher is a book for anyone who wants to understand the devastating impact of institutionalized child neglect and the fight for children’s rights. Bridge’s writing is both beautiful and tragic, and his advocacy work shines as a beacon of hope amid the darkness. But be warned: this is not an easy read, emotionally speaking.
Pages: 264 | ASIN : B0D5BFNFFL
Fireside Reflections: A Papa’s Lessons for a Successful Life
As we age, it’s only natural to reflect on the peaks and valleys of our lives. Some may pinpoint a few mistakes, while others might ruefully acknowledge many. In Fireside Reflections: A Papa’s Lessons for a Successful Life, Alan Dahl embodies this introspective journey with quiet dignity. He reviews his life’s missteps, takes pride in his achievements, and articulates his existence with grace and honesty. This endeavor is not within everyone’s grasp, but those who do so often hope to impart wisdom to younger generations—provided they are willing to listen.
Alan Dahl’s book is a thoughtful and contemplative memoir that revisits his youth, adolescence, and the various trials and tribulations of his adulthood. Though nonfiction, its passages often have the charm and narrative flow of a fireside story, giving it the feel of a fictionalized account of real events. Dahl’s life has been a tapestry of intriguing experiences, marked by as many blunders as triumphs. Now, in the later stages of his life, he revisits these episodes with wry humor, his smile almost palpable through his words. His reflections emanate a sincere, homespun wisdom that is both refreshing and comforting. The tone resonates with the warmth of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s storytelling or the engaging humor of Bill Bryson, inviting readers to envision the glow of a campfire as they delve into Dahl’s narrative.
In Fireside Reflections, readers will find a rich tapestry of relationship triumphs and failures, career advice, and thoughtful musings on life’s enduring mysteries. Dahl’s straightforward elegance and heartfelt storytelling offer a timeless and comforting experience. His desire to leave a piece of himself for others is clear, and those who read this book will undoubtedly feel grateful for his effort.
Pages: 200 | ASIN : B0D4DLSN4G
You’re on Fire, It’s Fine: Effective Strategies for Parenting Teens with Self-Destructive Behaviors
In You’re on Fire, It’s Fine, Katie K. May tackles one of the most challenging aspects of parenting: dealing with teens who exhibit self-destructive behaviors. This book stands out with its candid exploration of the author’s personal experiences and her practical guidance for parents. May leverages her background in clinical counseling to offer insightful strategies to support teenagers through their emotional turmoil, making it a compelling read for parents feeling overwhelmed by their teens’ behavior.
May’s writing is deeply engaging and relatable, making the book not just a manual but a narrative with which many can connect. She opens with a vivid recounting of her own struggles, such as the turmoil following her parents’ divorce and her subsequent battles with self-harm and depression. These personal anecdotes ground the book in reality, making it clear that May’s advice stems from lived experience as much as from professional expertise. Her story about discovering a purpose beyond her pain when she became pregnant at twenty-six is both heart-wrenching and uplifting, providing a powerful backdrop to her professional insights.
One of the book’s strongest aspects is its emphasis on empathy and understanding. May’s chapters on “Drop the Judgments That Fuel the Emotional Fire” and “Extinguish the Flames with Validation” underscore the importance of dropping preconceived notions and validating a teen’s feelings. Her discussion on how judgmental environments exacerbate emotional issues offers a profound lesson on the impact of a supportive versus a critical home atmosphere. This empathetic approach is therapeutic and fosters a more harmonious parent-teen relationship. This straightforwardness makes her strategies accessible and actionable, providing a starting point for parents who might be at their wits’ end.
You’re on Fire, It’s Fine is an essential read for any parent grappling with a teen’s self-destructive tendencies. May’s blend of personal narrative and professional advice offers both solace and actionable steps. Her heartfelt recounting of her journey and her clear, empathetic strategies will resonate deeply with parents feeling helpless in the face of their teens’ struggles. This book is particularly valuable for those who appreciate a personal touch in self-help literature and seek practical guidance grounded in real-life experiences.
Pages: 156 | ASIN : B0D2DY857H
The Ten Demandments
In The Ten Demandments: For Husband, Wife, Children, and Self, author Loretta J. Womack shares a comprehensive overview of her life’s journey, weaving personal anecdotes with lessons and principles that have shaped her path. The book serves not only as a personal memoir but also as a valuable resource for her family and others, providing insights into the role of faith, family, and self-reflection in leading a fulfilling life. Womack delves into the challenges she has faced, particularly in her marriage and family relationships, attributing her resilience and success to her deep-rooted faith. She emphasizes the significance of prayer in overcoming obstacles, offering her story as an inspiring example for fellow Christians. The narrative underscores the transformative power of prayer and encourages readers to seek divine guidance in all aspects of life.
Central to Womack’s message are her ‘demandments,’ a set of expectations and obligations that she believes are crucial for maintaining healthy relationships with oneself and loved ones. These principles range from the importance of self-love – positing that one must cherish oneself to fully love others – to the prioritization of spiritual connection. The book succinctly outlines and explains these demandments, making them accessible and practical for readers seeking to enrich their personal and familial bonds. Womack’s personal stories are engaging and reveal her compassionate nature. Particularly moving are the letters she includes to her children, which not only showcase her devotion as a parent but also serve as heartfelt life lessons for readers.
The Ten Demandments: For Husband, Wife, Children, and Self prompts introspection about one’s life journey and relationship with the divine. It is a thoughtful read for those looking to deepen familial connections and explore the spiritual dimensions of their lives. This book is particularly recommended for readers interested in personal growth within a Christian context and those seeking guidance in nurturing meaningful relationships.
Pages: 70 | ASIN : B079TN88YJ
LITERARY TITAN 