Illustration of a rabbit and a mouse holding a string of colorful bunting with small birds perched on it.

Trish’s Story

I wrote the Lambi story because addiction has shaped my life—and my family—for generations. When my children were still very young, their father battled substance use disorder. Those years were filled with stigma, silence, and a constant sense of shame and isolation. We didn’t know how to talk about what was happening, and we didn’t know where to turn. Many years later, the unimaginable happened: Joe lost his life to an overdose.

A person hugging two children, one shirtless and the other in a green dress, in a room with a white wall.

Illustration of fluffy white clouds on a blue background.

I knew we couldn’t be the only family living through this kind of pain. Families like mine were out there—trying to explain the unexplainable to children who were far too young to carry such a heavy burden. But there were no books to help them. Nothing to guide conversations, to offer comfort, or to reassure children that none of this was their fault.

A woman is smiling while standing between a young girl and a boy. The boy is wearing a baseball cap, orange Mets shirt, and holding a baseball glove. The girl is wearing a white dress with a blue collar. They are outdoors on grass.

Back in the late 1980s, I wrote my first book: My Daddy Has a Problem, hoping to fill that gap. But every publisher turned it away, saying, “We don’t talk about that.” But as Mr. Rogers reminded us,
“What is mentionable is manageable.” Avoiding the topic didn’t make the pain disappear—it only deepened the silence.

Book cover titled 'My Daddy Has A Problem' by Trish Luna on a gray background.

Illustration of transparent tape with red hearts pattern

Years later, I co-authored Timbi Talks about Addiction.

Group in a library with kids holding gifts, a woman is hugging them, a sign on the wall says 'Choose to be kind.'

Blue zigzag pattern with brown outline on a light background.

I saw it reach families just like mine, opening doors for healing and connection. But I realized I needed to go even further—with prevention tools.

THAT’S HOW LAMBI WAS BORN

A knitted stuffed bunny surrounded by red heart-shaped keychains with "Lambi" written on them.

Patterned fabric with rainbow arches and zigzag edges

Grounded in research and built on evidence-based practices in child development, Lambi teaches emotional awareness, self-regulation, and—most importantly—early decision-making. These aren’t just skills; they’re protective factors. When children learn to recognize their feelings, calm their bodies, and make thoughtful choices, they build resilience that can last a lifetime.

Every time I hear how Lambi has helped a child—or someone’s inner child—feel seen, comforted, and understood, I’m reminded why I do this work: These aren’t just stories I wrote. This is the story I live.

Lambi is how I honor what my family has been through while walking alongside others on this same road.

This isn’t just my work—it’s my heart on the page.

And through it, my deepest hope is that every child knows:

You are never alone.

From my heart to yours,

Trish

Smiling woman with gray hair, wearing pearl earrings and a brown shawl.