Romeoville Mom, Daughters Share Their Voices Through Writing

ROMEOVILLE, IL — A Romeoville mom and writer is starting to turn her writing passion into a family tradition for her and her two daughters.

Clare Sweeney said she has written books about her own experiences of growing up in a transracial adoptive family, as well as books about motherhood, pain and healing.

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"For a long time, there were things I carried quietly, and I eventually realized that sharing my story might help somebody else feel less alone in theirs," she told Patch.

In sharing her own writing, Clare's two daughters have also been inspired to start writing too.

"But what makes my story a little different is that I'm not the only writer in my house," she told Patch. "My daughters are becoming authors too."

Her youngest daughter, Chloe, 8, has published children's books of her own. And her older daughter, Madison, is preparing to share her writing as well.

"What started with me putting my own story on paper has grown into something I never expected—a family where multiple generations are picking up a pen and finding their own voices," Sweeney said via email to Patch. "We call it '3 Pens, 1 Home.'"

She said that she and her two daughters all have their own stories to tell.

"We don't all write about the same things, and we don't always see things the same way, which makes our little family of writers even more interesting," Sweeney said. "We support each other, but we each have our own voices and experiences."

Madison is working on a book called "I've Been That Teen," drawing from the teenage experience and things young people go through, Sweeney said.

"She actually told me that Chloe and I inspired her to write her own story. That means a lot to me because I never want my girls to feel like they have to follow in my footsteps, but I love knowing that seeing me and her little sister pursue writing encouraged her to share her own experiences, too," Sweeney said.

Younger daughter Chloe has shared her imagination in her book, "Ava and the Not So Perfect Day."

"I want both of my girls to understand that their voices matter, their experiences matter, and they don't have to wait until they're grown to start sharing their stories," Sweeney said.

All the books can be found on Amazon. Clare's books include "My Eyes, My Story," "A Mother's Song," and "Quiet Pain."

Chloe's books include "Where My Heart Belongs" and "Ava and the Not So Perfect Day."

Madison's book is still in progress.