One of the hardest parts of parenting through addiction is imaging how “normal” everyone else’s family’s life looks – thanks to social media. I see…
Read MoreJust Keep Breathing, then Pray, then Walk, then Notice
Sometimes it seems like that’s all I can do….just keep breathing. When I don’t know what’s going on with my son because he has stopped…
Read MoreOne Size Does Not Fit All
In life, I’m not a particularly controlling person. I don’t tend to believe that there is only one way to do things, but somehow, with…
Read MoreDeciding to Trust
It’s true that my daughter’s years of using also included years of lying, deception and trying to make me think I was going crazy. She…
Read More“Playing Stupid” vs. Tolerating the Test of Time
It is true that my son can choose to be actively engaged in treatment while, behind that smokescreen, he’s still engaged in all the same…
Read MoreGetting Away
We finally did it. We got away for a weekend. Just the two of us. It is hard to describe how big an accomplishment that…
Read MoreInner Circles
In our parent support group, we were taught about the concentric circles of the people in our lives who asked questions and expressed interest in…
Read MoreProvidential Moments
I don’t like to visit with other passengers when I travel. Although I am quite extroverted, there is something about air travel that brings out…
Read MoreBut What if the “Bottom” is the Bottom of a Casket?!
Conventional wisdom is a tricky thing. We know it’s conventional because, at least at some point, it proved to be true for lots of people…
Read MoreWhy Should I be the One?
I remember the first time a counselor suggested that I go to Al-Anon or another parent support group in our community. I was so insulted…
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