Riding that Bike – it can take a few spills
“Yesterday’s failures are today’s seeds
That must be diligently planted to be able to abundantly harvest
Tomorrow’s success.” -Anonymous
I was asked how my son’s recovery was progressing yesterday.
My mind flashed back to his recent Dec 2011 relapse and thought how well his sobriety seems to be progressing today ( June 2012). I was happy to relay the hope and news of his “good health” to my friend. She had heard of his relapse and replied “that was fast”. I agreed and said to her “Relearning how to get sober was far easier than getting the handle on his first sobriety.”
It took my son many spills and trips to get an idea of how to balance the bike of sobriety. Then he rode for a while and crashed that bike. However it was far easier for him to get back on the bike having grasped the concepts of balance and sobriety in his early attempts of recovery. Are there days that his bike wobbles? Sure I see that too. But there are days when my recovery is a tad shaky as well.
As a parent I hope his current ride is a long one and that he maintains his balance. I have watched enough of his journey to know I cannot put my feet upon his pedals. The journey is truly his. For those parents new to this bike path whose kids are falling down on their bike, give it time. These kids can potentially become the kid you see speaking at your local parent group offering recovery and hope. Bikes and recovery can be tricky to learn but there are many people out riding today.
peace and strength
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Categorised as: Journal Entries
[...] had written a post a while back about relapse. It basically proposes that our addict children would take a few slips, [...]
This is a great analogy. For the last yr my son has been on many bike paths, arrested,staying clean, and falling off his bike. It seems now when he falls he catches hiself a little sooner and gets back on the bike. All I can do is pray that he keeps getting back on the bike to a brighter and healthier path……..
This is a great analogy. I hope your son keeps his balance. I keep trying to help my son ride the bike, but I’m trying to stop. He will never learn to ride on his own if I keep holding on. My son was recently arrested, so he’s now on a different bike path, and so am I. I guess we’ve kind of been on a 2-seater with him in the front and me on the back,
always there to catch him when he falls. I pray that through this experience he will learn to ride on his own with God as his co-pilot instead of me.
This commentor has a blog found at http://amomsnewreality.blogspot.com/ please visit! Thanks for reading NB
I am new to the bike path and find myself catching my breath just like I did when my son was learning how to ride that first bike. I am hopeful that he stays on the path yet I know that if he does falter, he can still get up and try again.
Hi Sheri welcome to our bike club. Your comment made me think of this older post – http://addictionjournal.net/?p=926
I hope he remains healthy and yes…he can get up again if he falls off for a bit.
Stay hopeful!
As always great post!
there comes a time when parents need to rip off the training wheels, and throw them away. As well as letting go of the seat, taking our hands completely off and let them go… (ugh)
Great post. I hope the current ride is a long one!
just a terrific post ….so true.
The bike analogy brought back watch my daughter actually learn how to ride a real bike…never seemed like it would happen; could support them down the driveway but eventually had to let go…saw spills i wish did not happen and tears along the way; the rant ” I can’t do this!” and the large smile of finally riding solo…though the bike took some spills until she practiced and practiced and confidence seeded. So true…..
And when we fear doing something we have not done it a while ( like sking ) someone will always say ” you can do it ; it like riding a bike. You don’t forget” . Thanks Bill. This is a great way to start my day.