The Broken Mirror Project

An inspiring journey from a childhood of chaos and abuse to a life of hope and resilience, proving that our greatest wounds can become our greatest strengths.

The Hammer and the Bunny

The Hammer and the Bunny

Here in northeast Ohio, Hale Farm exists as a quaint little throwback to bygone days. One of those family bonding places especially made for autumn days — complete with hayrides, folks in period dress, goats to pet, and a cute gift shop. Our family day started with...

Hope Springs Eternal

I love spring. It’s my favorite season by far. The crispness turning to warmth with an ever more present sun. The worms poking their heads up. The returning flocks refreshing themselves in pop-up puddles of rainwater. The blossoms sprouting overnight, like children...

Unleashed

Cereal, of all things, seems to have played an outsized role in my life. For many abused kids, what are supposed to be mundane, ordinary things — the “simple pleasures” — become lynchpins of future triggers.  It was a late summer morning. It had to be, because mom was...

Poptimism

There’s probably a genetic component to hope in my DNA. For all his many faults and failings as a father, the one thing I am fairly certain I got from Pops was an indomitable sense of optimism. I call it Poptimism. Sure, he had his moments wrestling with the demons of...

Parenting the Abuser

At some point you start to realize that you are actually the parent to your abuser, and probably always have been. The primitive thinking and behavior consistently shown by them requires a deft touch to navigate. My mother had Borderline Personality Disorder, and the...