Families are complicated and they come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes. It doesn’t matter if you are married to your child’s other parent, or if they have joint custody. No matter what the situation is, if your child’s other parent has had the courage to get the help they need and are going to go to rehab, it’s going to be a logistical difficulty. Here are a few details to keep in mind.
Preparing your child – Before the time comes, sit down together with your child or children, and talk to them about their parent’s addiction. Talk about the courage that it takes to heal, and the hope that recovery promises for your family’s future, but most of all tell them the facts. Tell them bullet by bullet what the plan is moving forward. Tell them how this has changed their lives and how it will change them moving forward. You don’t have to, nor should you, tell them everything. But you need to remember that they are absorbing what is going on anyway. It’s best if you are there and available to them to process with.
Consider researching therapists who specialize in working with children. It may be beneficial for your child to see one as these big changes happen in the family.
Preparing your schedule – If you have time to plan for the way this big shift in your life will impact your schedule, sit down with a notebook and a calendar and get into the weeds until you have as many of the details nailed down as possible. The one thing that can make this time the most difficult is if, besides any emotional toll this takes on you, you spend the whole time suffering because of a dysfunctional schedule and structure.
Preparing yourself – When you approach a big change in your life with a plan and flexibility, you will almost always be able to come away with some kind of success. Make sure before you begin this journey with your child’s other parent, through their addiction and through to their recovery, you take a bit of time for yourself, at least half an hour. The thing is, even if your schedule won’t be terribly impacted, your child will. So you will need to be available for deep emotional work and the possibility of rebellion from your child due to an underlying fear and possible feeling of abandonment.
If you or someone you know are suffering from drug or alcohol addiction and need to seek out South Florida drug detox centers or drug rehab centers in south florida, please give us a call at (833) 596-3502. We can help you take your first steps toward a sober life.