Karen Sanford

My Child, My Teacher Karen Sanford

My Child, My Teacher is an account of a mother and daughter both grappling with the daughter's mental issues, the exhaustion and frustration of navigating the often ineffective, uncaring, and mismanaged justice, social and mental health systems, and the indelible impact it is having on the relationship between mother and daughter. The book assumes the perspective from a parent, in this case, a woman who through unforeseen circumstances of her own found herself having to navigate the bulk of this burden alone. It chronicles the loving yet turbulent relationship between mother and daughter and positively chronicles their way to acceptance and understanding. Her experiences reveal in sometimes painful bas relief, that life can present many challenges, some unspeakable, while others can be joyful beyond the imagination. The book takes a look at how when the justice system, social services, and mental health mechanism converge, sometimes the results can be disastrous as some of the examples show. But the book also provides links to possible solutions to families in need. As this whole situation is still a work in progress, the relationship between mother and daughter is evolving as well.