Lovely One

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness and death. 

The Jacksons were concerned about Talia as she continued to struggle with school and making friends. Things worsened when she had a sudden seizure, and they learned that she had a form of epilepsy that produced complex partial seizures. Talia was also diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and her parents looked for a school that would cater to her unique needs. Looking back, Jackson feels guilty that she pushed Talia so hard; she was emulating her own parenting, which had worked well for her but was not what Talia needed. Eventually, the Jacksons realized that Talia was suffering at school and pulled her out in favor of homeschooling her.

Patrick took on this responsibility, as Jackson had recently gotten a new job at a private practice in order to earn more for the family. This allowed them to buy their dream home in Bethesda, where they began a new chapter. Jackson describes her pride in seeing her daughters pursue their activities and grow up, and she reflects on how finding the right school for Talia, Auburn School, gave her eldest daughter a fresh start. During this time, Talia also received a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.