Mom's Pen

Family Secrets, Trauma, and a Grandma's love. In Mom's Pen, the author reveals how a 'normal' family can hide harsh realities within the home. Domestic abuse can lie hidden in plain sight, and it most often does. Women find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle and they normalize pain and agony. Children in such families are hit the worst, but love from just one person can shield them. Posie narrates an honest story of her trauma, her relationship with her parents, and grandma, and ultimately her decision to heal herself.

Her mother's pen emerges as the symbol of optimism and hope. Posie reflects on her childhood in the 1970s and the impact of her unresolved trauma more than three decades later. She shares profound insights about acknowledging, accepting, and taking action towards self-healing. A deeply moving story of the violence that is often hidden in families, families that live next door or sit next to you at church. It shares how the author, as an adult, struggled with her past while trying to please everyone around her.

The author weaves memories of her childhood with entries from her journals to share her struggle to protect her own children, connect with a special grandma through letters, and do the hard work of reconciling with her past.

A compelling memoir of a woman’s inner turmoil as she faces suppressed memories of her traumatic childhood while raising her own children. Her love of family leads her to understanding and eventually forgiveness for her parents. 

"It is impossible not to be affected by this heart-warming story." - Soumya Sreehari, Reader's Favorite - 

"A ‘normal’ family can hide harsh realities within the home. Posie L Carson’s memoir Mom’s Pen tackles the issue of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse can lie hidden in plain sight, and it most often does. Women find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle and they normalize pain and agony. Children in such families are hit the worst – the cuts run deep. Posie narrates an honest story of her trauma, her relationship with her parents, and her decision to heal herself. Her mother’s pen emerges as the symbol of optimism and hope. Posie reflects on her childhood in the 1970s and the implications of her unresolved trauma more than three decades later. She shares profound insights about acknowledging, accepting, and taking affirmative action towards self-healing. 

Memoirs can provide catharsis for both authors and readers. I found this to be true as I read Mom’s Pen by Posie L Carson. I have not directly experienced any of the events shared in the story. But I could easily imagine the events happening behind closed doors of many people I know. Childhood trauma and abuse leave deep and long-lasting scars. Posie L Carson treats this explosive subject with great empathy and compassion. As she narrates the profound impact of her father’s abuse on her mother and herself, optimism shines forth. Her intent and actions to not only move on from her trauma but also forgive her father wholeheartedly and help him are highly commendable. I was intensely touched and moved by Posie’s story of acute pain and hope." - Reader's Favorite

Posie is a writer and former journalist who fell in love with writing at a young age. At 13 she began a pen pal relationship with her grandmother when her parents moved across the country.  Today she lives in SC with her husband and their lovable, border collie.  She keeps a journal nearby to capture ideas, thoughts, and to work through challenges.

She wrote Mom's Pen to share her journey and the methods used to work through the pain and healing of domestic violence in hopes it might help others experiencing a similar journey. 

In her early career Posie wrote for a community newspaper.  Currently she works in Human Resources and volunteers regularly in her community.