Quote of the Week
"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way" ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
And the Countdown Begins . . .
Posted by:Jenn--Tuesday, September 22, 2015
The awards ceremony begins at 6pm, and lasts about 2 hours. It is held at the Family Court House, 550 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA (the Old Allegheny County Jail) on the second floor. In addition to various awards presentations, there will be a keynote speaker for the event. Speeches from the Parent(s) of the Year and the keynote speaker are always well worth the investment of time. Hope you can make it!
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Posted by:Jenn -- Tuesday, September 22, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
Relapse is a Part of Recovery
Posted by:Jenn--Wednesday, September 09, 2015
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Posted by:Jenn -- Wednesday, September 09, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
YES, We are Meeting on Sept 5th !!
Posted by:Jenn--Wednesday, September 02, 2015
Give your weekend a powerful start! We will be OPEN for our regular PSST meeting in Wilkinsburg on Saturday, Sept 5th from 9-11:30am. There will still be plenty of "weekend" left to enjoy with family & friends . . .
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Posted by:Jenn -- Wednesday, September 02, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
Truths about Addiction
Posted by:Jenn--Saturday, August 22, 2015
Parents Are Enablers
I Cannot Fix This
My Addict Is A Liar
My Addict Is A Criminal
Others Don’t Want Them Around
Life Will Not Be The Same
Homelessness May Be The Path He Chooses
I once wrote a letter to my son about using drugs. I used the analogy of him standing on the railroad tracks and a train (drugs) is blasting down the tracks and blaring its horn but he hears nothing. I told him it was my job to knock him out of the way and take the hit, that’s what fathers do. I understand now, I was wrong. All that would do would leave me dead on the tracks and he would be standing on another set of tracks the next day.
Posted by:Jenn -- Saturday, August 22, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
Apartment Hunting
Posted by:Jenn--Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Posted by:Jenn -- Wednesday, August 12, 2015 8 comments-click to comment
Addiction ~ a Family Disease
Posted by:Jenn--Wednesday, August 05, 2015
Posted by:Jenn -- Wednesday, August 05, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
How to Talk with your Teen about Marijuana
Posted by:Jenn--Thursday, July 30, 2015
Posted by:Jenn -- Thursday, July 30, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
K2 & your Teenager’s Heart
Posted by:Jenn--Friday, July 24, 2015
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Posted by:Jenn -- Friday, July 24, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
Miracles DO Happen
Posted by:Jenn--Sunday, July 12, 2015
Posted by:Jenn -- Sunday, July 12, 2015 0 comments-click to comment
No Enabling in this Family!
Posted by:Jenn--Thursday, July 09, 2015
My son moved to Miami when he was first on his own. He was almost 21. Immediately before that, he was at First Step Half Way house. He was having some level of success with regard to drug use, in that he was functioning, but he was still using. He was not yet convinced to come completely clean. That sometimes takes awhile.
He was attending Allegheny Community college, transferred his credits to Miami Dade Community, and continued at Miami Dade when he arrived in Miami.
I did not give him any money for rent. I never co-signed anything. I did make the mistake of having a joint bank account with him since that saved him money in checking account charges, but after the issues with banking fees due to him using his debit card when he didn't have any money in his account, I removed my name off the account within 6 months.
When he finished Miami Dade within a year after arriving in Miami, he was accepted into University of Miami for a 4 year degree. At that point, I co-signed a school loan, because that was the only way he could continue to University of Miami. At this point, with his success at Miami Dade Community college, exercising a level of responsibility for himself in Miami, maintaining a full time job as a server in a restaurant, I felt that he deserved this chance to get a 4 year degree at University of Miami. However, even though he was functioning well, he was still using. I did co-sign that loan with some level of expectation that I would be paying off the loan myself.
He still lives in the Miami area. He just turned 29 and has been completely clean for 3 years. No drugs, alcohol or tobacco. He works as a computer programmer and earns a fair salary. And he is in the process of paying back his school loans.
And I still do not give him any money for anything. And I still would never co-sign anything. As he has his successes, I will buy him things, which is mainly related to his athletics. He participates in triathlons, which is an expensive sport. And I will indicate to him that the reason I buy him whatever it is I am buying him, is due to his success in staying clean. I make sure he understands the association between me buying him expensive things for his sport and him continuing to stay clean.
When he first went to Miami, he had his issues with his drug use and we were at the point in our relationship that we could discuss such things. He once told me, "Mom, The only thing that works is having $100 in your pocket and having to choose between a bed to sleep in and drugs." I still keep reminding myself of this statement to this very day .... years later. Read More......
Posted by:Jenn -- Thursday, July 09, 2015 1 comments-click to comment
PSST on July 4th? YES, of course!!
Posted by:Jenn--Monday, June 22, 2015
Let's celebrate our INDEPENDENCE - from enabling, from being fearful, from being manipulated! (See the helpful post below for more information on parents' rights . . .)
Come to our Saturday, July 4th PSST meeting in Wilkinsburg for the perspective, friendship, insights, and shot-in-the-arm that we all need to maintain our sanity.
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Posted by:Jenn -- Monday, June 22, 2015 0 comments-click to comment