The stories of the people I’ve met since I began working at LSIS continue to amaze me. Whenever I begin a speech about substance abuse, there is always a moment where I briefly worry if people will care to receive our message. I often look around before my speech, thinking that I’m about to tell a story whose message might contradict the ideas, cultures, and lifestyles of some of t

He stood there fidgety, his big brown eyes, looked up at me and his deep, raspy teen voice asked with uncertainty, “Mom, can we talk?” Chances are, if you are a teen parent, this question will cause your heart to palpate and your palms to sweat because of two specific reasons. First, your teen wants to spend time with you and needs your advice on something (yay), or second, somethi

Knowing what you know now, would you go back in time and do it all over again? Or maybe pass down some whispers of wisdom to your younger self to alter a few life choices? If I could go back in time, I would look my teenage self in the eyes and tell her she would suffer heartache, self-doubt, fear, disappointment, and much more because she allowed people into her life that sucked a