Nathan Smith has struggled with schizophrenia his entire life. Overwhelmed by thoughts of suicide and depression, he disappeared into a haze of alcoholism to deal with the daily challenges of his disease. But instead of alleviating his disease, the alcohol made it ten times worse. Spending most of his time in an alcoholic stupor, he was not in control of his thoughts or actions, thanks to his schizophrenia. Each time he tried to get control of his life, he failed miserably. Mom's Idea is the heartbreaking story of Smith's struggles to deal with his schizophrenia while ultimately realizing that he also had to find a way to stop drinking. With the encouragement of his mother, he began the long road to sobriety and a more productive life. Mom's Idea offers an in-depth account of an average person suffering from schizophrenia; it chronicles the frequently changing ups and downs of dealing with a debilitating disease and the compounding problem of alcoholism.