Cathy Tompkins

I offer a trigger warning today as I’m going to get specific about what I usually just call chronic childhood trauma. I encourage you to take any steps that help you hear sad or shocking information without ruining your day. Please. Most of us spend a bit of energy protecting ourselves from stories like these... Read More

We think abandonment looks like Moses set adrift in the bulrushes, a baby left on the steps of a convent, or when Hansel and Gretel were left in the woods to fend for themselves. There are all sorts of abandonment. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines abandonment as “left without needed protection, care, or support”. As... Read More

Earlier this week I spoke with a mother who homeschools her three daughters and is fiercely committed to protecting them from what she sees as a dangerous world. I understand her fear. Many of us feel it. And yet, I also believe that much of childhood’s work is learning how to live among others. To... Read More