100 Pedals

Recovery for Parents Dealing with Addiction in their Families

## Thoughts and perspectives on “The Joey Song”

August 18, 2025 by Dave Cooke Leave a Comment

> “Once upon a time I was just a regular mom, stumbling through parenthood like everyone else—and then I had to figure out how to be the mom of an addict. I had to figure out how to love my child without helping to hurt him, how to grieve the loss of my child who’s still alive without dying, and how to trade shame and blame for strength.

> To be the mom of an addict is to be an ambassador of truth and understanding.
> No more shame. No more silence.” ~ Sandy Swenson

I spent this past weekend reading a preview copy of Sandy Swenson’s soon to be released book, “The Joey Song – A Mother’s Story of Her Son’s Addiction.” This book is Sandy’s powerful, honest, and very authentic story of her journey with her oldest son’s addiction.

I connected with Sandy through her blogs late 2013. I was attracted to Sandy’s wonderful ability to write in honest, raw, authentically emotional tones about her life as a Mom of an adult child battling an addiction. Everything Sandy writes moves me, touches me, and draws me into her emotional state. I have come to feel and appreciate a common bond of our similar stories, experiences, and perspectives.

Every parent dealing with addiction in their world has a story. It is often too painful, disturbing, heartbreaking or difficult to share. While each story is unique to us, there are many common or similar threads in every story to that of other parents dealing with addiction.

Not every parent is willing to or are capable of being open about their issues, challenges and experiences with addiction. It’s not easy. While our stories are real, painful, and troubling, it can be difficult to find the courage, the safe haven, or the comfort to share them. Like Sandy, I have found a sort of cathartic release in capturing my thoughts, feelings, ideas, and emotions in writing. There is a healing effect that comes with expressing what is churning inside.

I applaud and appreciate Sandy for being so open, so honest, so vulnerable, and so insightful about her journey with her son. She holds nothing back in The Joey Song. She shares everything and hides nothing. Most importantly, there are wonderful insights and perspectives in her journey that we can all learn from and find inspiration in.

Thank you, Sandy for sharing “The Joey Song“ with us.

“The Joey Song“ is available now for pre-order at Amazon. This is a must read for any parent or any loved one who needs a little love, guidance, insight, and perspective on their journey with addiction. I am grateful for my sneak peek I am even more grateful for the heartfelt words of a friend, a mom, and an inspiring, courageous soul.

Filed Under: Addiction, featured, Parenting, Parenting & Addiction Tagged With: addiction, finding joy, joy, joy and addiction, joy and parenting, parenting, parenting and addiction, parenting and recovery, personal recovery, personal recovery for parents, recovery, Sandy Swenson, The Joey Song