Well, it’s not yours, is it? No, it isn’t. It’s your child’s. At some point, all parents have to let go and allow their addicted children to create their own addiction stories.
Parents want the best for their children’s lives. It’s their dream. As your kids grow up, you envision all they can be and achieve. Every bit of your hope and love goes into this perfect dream for this perfect future for this child you love more than life itself.
And then addiction makes an appearance and changes everything.
Or does it? Maybe not. Yes, addiction alters your child’s life path in ways no one could predict. Yes, it opens hidden doors you never imagined. Yes, some of those doors are absolutely terrifying. But other doors reveal hidden strengths your children never realized they possessed.
Parents continue to dream when their children enter rehab. They create glorious, exciting recovery stories. Unfortunately, these stories are also filled with unrealistic expectations.
How do I know? Because it was never your addiction story. That means it’s not your recovery story either. Once again, it’s your child’s.
Give your children the freedom to live their own amazing, unique recovery stories. Give them the freedom to learn what they need to learn as they struggle through addiction, rehab, relapse, recovery, and beyond. Give them the freedom to discover those hidden strengths they never knew they possessed.
But be prepared. Their stories won’t be the same as the ones you created. Their stories will be better. That’s because they contain not only the victories but also the setbacks. Both are important for growth.
Believe it or not, their stories offer you incredible opportunities. They allow you to celebrate your children’s progress each step of the way, to love them unconditionally across every valley and hilltop, to watch them learn how to tackle life’s toughest challenges.
Wow. That’s what parenting is all about, right? Give your children the freedom to create their own addiction stories. They’ll do it anyway. You know they will. Let them.
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Is your child addicted to drugs or alcohol? Are you trapped on the emotional rollercoaster of addiction? Dave Cooke can help. He’s an Addiction Coach and an internationally recognized speaker. Let him show you how to create an action plan that will move you, your family, and your addicted child back on track in a healthier direction. Contact Dave today for private coaching or book him to speak at your church, parent’s group, business organization, or neighborhood association. Go to https://www.100pedals.com/coaching/ for more information or email dave@100Pedals.com.
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