Hannah Van Sickle Title: Freelance Writer and Storyteller Education: St. Lawrence University and Wesleyan University Location: Great Barrington, MA Expertise: Divorce, Single-parent Finances, Child Loss Single mom and mother to threeFormer educator turned freelance storytellerWriter on all things parenting, from raising teens to managing finances and myriad topics in between Experience After a decade spent teaching high-school English at public and private schools, and another decade working with students as a one-on-one academic coach, Hannah Van Sickle turned her attention to freelance writing. What began eight years ago as a means of working through the death of her youngest daughter following a failed heart transplant quickly became a means of supporting herself as a newly divorced single mom of two tweens. Today, she continues to embrace the bumps she's encountered along her parenting journey as a means of assuring other moms that they'll be OK—no matter what—and educating them (with the help of expert input) in the process. "My concept of family, and my role in that construct, has evolved at a near-constant pace since becoming a parent almost two decades ago. When rocky patches arise (and they sure do!), I'm quick to remind myself that the only way forward is through—which can get a bit messy for all of us from time to time. Above all else, be patient and kind with yourself." Education St. Lawrence University, B.A., English Writing and Fine ArtsWesleyan University, M.A. in Liberal Studies About Parents Parents, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning online resource for trustworthy, empathetic, and supportive information and inspiration for your families. We reach 9 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists, fact checked, and reviewed by our Expert Review Board for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.