Clik here to view.
The Wild Side of Recovery
On my recent camping trip with Dave, I read a wonderful memoir called Wild by Portland author Cheryl Strayed. In it, she relates how as a young woman in her twenties she struggled to come to grips with...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Just Say No is Just Not Enough
My kids grew up in the era of Just Say No. Despite being mired in my own secret battle with alcoholism—or maybe because of it—I was desperate to protect my children from drugs and alcohol. My strategy...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Just Say Yes
On Thursday I talked about why a Just Say No approach might not be enough when it comes to preventing substance abuse with our kids. I promised to tell you today what to do differently. Ever since,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
It Was Me Who Reached Out for You
Recently I heard from a couple readers who know they’re addicts or alcoholics, but just can’t find the willingness to reach for help. Their emails came with heartbreaking confessions. One began, “I’m...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Feelings Are For (a post about your kids and drugs)
A couple months back, I wrote a post about how Just Say No is just not enough. Not when it comes to our kids and drug abuse. I promised to tell you what I thought would work better—and then I sort of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
For the Loved Ones
Last Friday I wrote a guest post for addicts who can’t seem to surrender. This morning, I feel compelled to share the other half of that message. Today’s post is for the loved ones of addicts and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
When Mercy Trumps Judgment
In early May, I’m speaking at an annual fundraiser for a large women’s center in Texas. Their mission is to provide housing and services to homeless and addicted women who are trying to rebuild their...
View ArticleClik here to view.
No Matter What (For Moms of Addicts)
This time, she’s wearing a floral dress and pink lipstick. The pained expression I recognize well. Before she even opens her mouth, I’m pretty sure she is the mother of an addicted son or daughter. I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Does Daddy Drink Because I’m Bad?”
“Because Daddy’s sick.” Throughout my childhood, this was my mother’s explanation to my siblings and me for why our father behaved erratically, why we had to move across the country to get away from...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hearing Voices
Two nights ago, Dave and I watched the season premier of Homeland, a show about a brilliant but terribly flawed CIA agent played by Claire Danes. At one point in the episode, her sister, who happens to...
View Article
