Without My Mother's Love

About the Book

Rachel Robinson is smiling. When asked how she’s doing, she responds “Life is good” with a vibrant tone in her voice. Although this hasn’t always been the case for Rachel, today she has the life that she dreamed of as a child. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Rachel often dreamed of being rescued from the emotionally toxic environment in which she lived by her father - a man she had never met. Even though her mother was physically present, emotionally, Rachel was abandoned. It had become apparent to her at an early age that the treatment she received from her mother was less than cordial. Never understanding why she was treated in such an unorthodox manner, Rachel continued to vie for her mother’s love and affection - something she desired more than anything. By adolescence, Rachel had endured so much physical and emotional pain that she saw suicide as her only alternative in dealing with the turmoil. But with every failed attempt, her sadness reached a new plateau that was overshadowed by an even darker secret. Rachel entered into a marriage seeking solace from her horrendous upbringing, but instead she found the situation to be a mirror image of the one she had tried to escape. After years of living the facade she had created for those around her, Rachel set out on her own in hopes of finding happiness, the one thing she hadn’t been able to attain. With a failed marriage behind her and two kids to raise, Rachel had never entertained the thought of remarrying, but to her own astonishment she did. Just when she thought she had made it through the worst, her past resurfaced to haunt her.

About the Author

“Without My Mother’s Love” began as a journal where I composed my deepest thoughts and most atrocious memories. Although writing caused me to relive the painful experiences, I found the process to be extremely therapeutic. A little more than a year after I first sought therapy I picked up my journal and read the words that I had recorded. Up until that moment I had underestimated the power of the written word. Seeing on paper what I had overcome influenced me to tell my story with the hope of providing inspiration to someone who is going through or has gone through a similar circumstance. My story is one of triumph and determination. I’ve chosen not to be a victim of my past quandaries but to be a voice that encourages others not give up. Today I reside in Southern California with my husband and daughters.