Author Bev Roozeboom of Pella is celebrating the release of A Day in the Life—a powerful book that takes an in-depth look into the lives of families whose children have chronic mental health disorders.
“A Day in the Life came out of our family’s journey with our son, now an adult, who has lived with the challenges of mental illness all his life,” said Roozeboom. “I felt called to write it as a way to relate some of the truths God has taught me in the midst of our struggles, as well as to share the profound hope He has blessed me with.”
Published by the Write Place, A Day in the Life covers a wide range of issues faced by parents of children with mental illnesses, like grief, joy, chaos, sibling relationships, the church’s response and making sense of suffering. Not only does Roozeboom draw on her own experiences, she features the perspectives of parents she has interviewed whose children deal with various mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD and many more.
The purpose of A Day in the Life is to offer hope and encouragement to parents who feel embattled or discouraged. “Statistics show that one in five children have or will have a serious mental illness,” said Roozeboom. “Many of these families live in isolation. As they read these stories, my hope is that disheartened parents will realize they are not walking this difficult path alone.”
Roozeboom’s other, equally important, goal is to break the stigma that surrounds mental illness. “I hope to dispel some of that stigma by inviting the ‘outside world’ into our homes,” she said. “I want readers to see and experience what so many live with on a daily basis, especially the love and concern these families have for their children.”
A Day in the Life is available as a print and e-book on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com. It can also be found at The Sanctuary in Pella, as well as Choices Christian Bookstores in Newton and West Des Moines.
Bev Roozeboom lives in Pella with her husband, Steve. She is also the author of Unlocking the Treasure, a Bible study for moms entrusted with special-needs children. Roozeboom is involved in her church’s prayer ministry and teaches NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) classes with Steve. She loves spending time with family and friends—especially her three children and five grandchildren.
