I largely experienced great kindness in my dark days of parenting. My friends prayed and encouraged while I blamed and shamed myself. But how easy it is for us — for me — to armchair quarterback a parent who is doing the best they can with what they know, or don’t know. Thanks to Katherine Ketcham for a call to grace.
Letting Go
For you.
Some of the best tips and tools for parents are on Drugfree.org. I find myself posting their posts and sharing their shares. Great idea: wait for it…how about you get their posts directly? Genius, I know, right? Let me whet your appetite with these addressed topics:
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Coming Out of the Fog. On Treatment
Our son says treatment is a place where one acquires education and enlightenment as to one’s addiction and is given tools to embrace a new and different way of living apart from substances. Fog-dissolving.
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Who can understand the mother-heart?
In searching for a Good Friday image, I came to rest on one of Jesus’ mother watching her son die a slow death. There was nothing she could do. In her face is the absorption of all things wrong and horrible.
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Looks Bad on Paper
Years ago, about ten rows back in the auditorium a tearful mom talked to me after a school presentation on the dangers of alcohol and other drugs. “I don’t do anything that matters,” she said. “I’m so consumed with my son’s drug problem.” I could relate to the moon and back having felt that way to be sure. It gave new perspective to hear her say it out loud. What she does matters — she loves someone.
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