Introduction
As you read this book, please recognize where my heart is. I write from experience and sincerity. I write with purpose and integrity. I write because I must. I write because I know I’m not alone in my parenting journey. If freely sharing my mistakes and what I’ve learned helps others in their own parenting journey, then all this incredibly hard, emotional work is well worth it. To be human, we must be humane. To be humane is to show compassion. To show compassion, don’t look away from another’s pain. Don’t look down, pretending not to see they are hurting. Instead, look into their eyes, even if their pain seems overwhelming. There will come a time when you are in pain, too. When that time comes, find people who will also look you in the eye. Find that person who will listen with compassion and will stand beside you in support. We need to know we are not alone, especially when we are hurting. If I hadn’t done these things, it’s quite possible I would not be the person I am today, or much worse. Do not suffer in silence and do not suffer alone, because we are most certainly not alone!
There are many books on addiction, so the question is, what is so different about this one? Why should you read this book rather than a book written by a doctor, scientist, or mental health professional?
This book is different because we have witnessed the hopelessness of having a child in the throes of active addiction and experienced firsthand the effects of stigma. We truly understand and empathize with families experiencing trauma. We are parents who have experienced firsthand the devastating effects on families surrounding substance use disorder (SUD), opioid use disorder (OUD), and mental health disorders. We understand the emotional state of feeling disconnected, helpless, hopeless, stigmatized, and frustrated by societal norms reflected toward those struggling with these issues.
We wrote this book to encourage openness and acceptance of the struggles many families are facing. We intend to offer a practical roadmap through the confusion and often complicated morass surrounding these issues. The challenges are real, raw, and often overwhelming, especially considering that stigma continues throughout society. We desire to dismantle these boundaries, encourage dialogue, and share narratives and honest stories, including stories surrounding recovery. This is a book written by parents for parents caught amidst an intense, never-ending storm, needing help, hope, and a compass pointing toward the light and hopeful outcomes that recovery and healing are possible.
If you take away anything from this book, we hope it is this. Everyone has an intrinsic need for connection. Despite our immense love for a family member or a friend who is struggling, if we do not have a true understanding of what they are going through, our love will seem lacking.
Mainely Writing 