Our mission in life became to fix our son, get his life on track, keep him safe, and stop the madness. We became addicted to fixing our addict. In the meantime, my life was circling the proverbial drain and it was all my son’s fault… or was it?
Tag: parenting
Evolution of a Beard: My Growth as Reflected Through Facial Hair
My hatred and rage grew alongside my father’s beard. Beards represented mental illness. Beards represented embarrassment. Beards represented my failed family. The last time I saw my father without a beard was the night he accused me of being an alien sent to harvest his testicles. It was the summer before I entered eighth grade.… Continue reading Evolution of a Beard: My Growth as Reflected Through Facial Hair
How Parents Can Support Teens’ Mental Health
Parents play a key role in connecting teens with mental health treatment and helping them learn to live with their diagnosis. The parents of teenagers used to fret about whether their kids were sleeping too much or “just saying no” to drugs, but today’s parents are more in tune with the mental health needs of… Continue reading How Parents Can Support Teens’ Mental Health
Kids, Parents & Grandparents All Face Strain Of Opioid Crisis
One expert estimates that for every child in foster care due to a parent’s addiction there are 18 to 20 children who have been informally taken in by family members. When parents are living with opioid addiction—or even trying to establish their lives in recovery—it can take a toll on the whole family, from kids… Continue reading Kids, Parents & Grandparents All Face Strain Of Opioid Crisis
How Sponsoring Fellow Alcoholics Is Teaching Me How To Parent My Son
How do I, an alcoholic with a dysfunctional childhood who didn’t even begin maturing until his early 30s, go about the daunting duty of raising a son to manhood? Recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous has helped me build an incredible life. A restored marriage, a promising career, and a comfortable suburban home highlight the tangibles; the… Continue reading How Sponsoring Fellow Alcoholics Is Teaching Me How To Parent My Son