A place where people share stories about turning difficult moments, days, and situations around.
Family Mental Health
As Spring arrives Menderist is publishing two new articles in our series, Family Mental Health. First, we share six well-reviewed recent books on mental health, which are recommended by children’s book specialists. And our second story highlights several reputable websites where parents can find more good books for their family.
Books on Mental Health for Parents and Children to Read Together: Spring 2025
“London feels stuck. His school friends think he’s this confident kid who likes video games and will kick your butt if you get on his bad side. His high-achieving parents think he’s a genius coder …None of this is true.” (from the review of ‘Is There A Boy Like Me?’)
How to Find Children’s Books for Family Reading
Sometimes parents and children want to read more high-quality books but don’t know about the great review sites available. To help these families, Menderist lists nine well-respected sites we used in researching our Spring 2025 article, Books on Mental Health for Parents and Children to Read Together.
In the following article we list seven reputable websites, from organizations such as Kirkus, CommonSense Media, and Quill and Quire. We also link to a popular crowd-sourced site, and an independent review site.
Gifts of Another Kind
When did someone give you a gift – one that cost little, if anything – that made a crucial, positive difference in your life? That was the challenge undertaken by the 10 contributors to this special issue of Menderist. Many thanks to our writers, who shared their personal stories.
Remembering Others in Joyful Times
The Gift of Dishwashing
Treasuring the Imperfect
The Gift of Being Seen
A Creative Anniversary Surprise
Gifts of Love and Time
Discovering the Real in Las Vegas
The Gift of Encouraging Words
Lessons in Companionship and Hope
A Gift of Three Lives
Popular Stories
A Lesson in Seeing Others
“Starting middle school in a brand-new building may mean shiny lockers, spotless carpets, and flawless desks, but the internal struggles ….”
It Doesn’t Get Better Than This
“In fearing the worst, I’d be assaulted by visions of the Titanic – as if we could metaphorically veer off course, hit an iceberg, and slowly disappear….”
You’re All My Favourite
“She died in 2010, but I think of her often, such as when I see a bird in the backyard or …point out plants to my children….”
Companions on the Journey
“Every teacher has a different story about why we entered education. For many teachers, the driving force ranges from ….”
Challenges in Reengaging Students
“Whenever s/he went to school, the student avoided social contact by sleeping in class and wearing a hoodie and Covid mask all day long…..”
Passing Blue
It’s just another dull winter afternoon of working at home – until a careful look out the window helps turn things around.
“I sign back into the laptop and verify I’m who I say I am – that I have the right to see my data. It’s almost dusk and…”
My Journey to Better Mental Health
“As I entered middle age, my mind and body changed — and my stress relievers no longer served their intended purpose ….”
Progress Instead of Perfection
“When I look back over all that has happened in 2023, things seem a bit overwhelming….”
Lessons from a Big Mistake
“An old family video shows me, around five years of age, crying… frustrated that my toys keep falling off a toy wheelbarrow as I struggle….”
Minor Alterations
An ordinary drive using Google Maps leads to a surprising discovery.
“Now the holidays are done, it’s time to resume the chores and errands that were put aside. Such as updating financial records for the coming tax season…”
Starting a New Habit
“I’ll admit it: I have spent many years being late and suffering the consequences. It’s not something I’m proud of…..”
Return of the Green
“April was a month of heavy adulthood. Like many parents, I was a cheerleader for a university student who was writing essays. And responsible for ….”
