Not Parent Expected (NPE): The Untethering & My Own Story

Maggie Chenard (aka “The Mindful NPE”) received ancestry testing as a gift from her adult children. Her results were not at all what she was expecting. She now identifies as an NPE (Not Parent Expected). She also learned that her ancestry is 50% Ashkenazi Jewish, which led her to find and participate in The BRCA Founder Outreach (BFOR) Study, offering individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry genetic testing for the three BRCA mutations common in this population. Already a meditator, Maggie found that staying present and being mindful helped her process her experience with less pain. She started The Mindful NPE social media accounts to support others going through similar experiences, promoting self-compassion, acceptance, and community for NPEs.