arents new to addiction are taught, “addict’s manipulate”. This is a truism. What you probably won’t be told is that “Parents of Addicts manipulate too.” To “fix” our kids, we try every trick found in our parent manipulation bag. I know I did. I used to rationalize my manipulation by thinking; “Desperate times call for [...]
I am trying to say that working my recovery is key. I first had to realize my recovery was tied on some level but needed to become very independent of my son’s journey. Parent and addict make the strangest dance partners. We dance together yet often times the dance steps force us to be very much apart.
He is wiser now and understands how to avoid the fights, the drug seeking, the escape attempts, and drama that occurs in all detox facilities. “I fly below the radar and have limited conversation other than in meetings.”
As the journey progresses we learn that relapse happens. Our friend’s kids relapse and we support them. If our child relapses our friends support us. The whole time we are learning about the balance of the head and the heart.
What they don’t tell you is that as you walk the journey of recovery, on certain days your feet will feel like cement blocks.
Cement is fine too, as life lessons are not always delivered on a silver platter. Perhaps it is the Gift Of Cement that allows us to appreciate the healthier times.