Enthusiastic Sobriety Parent
I’m a parent who was involved in an Enthusiastic Sobriety program for six years. I poured all my money, time, money, energy, money, etc., into the program.
While I was determined to be that-really-gnarly-program-parent (you know, so my kid wouldn’t DIE) there were incidents from time to time that put worms in my gut.
When I would question those things that didn’t feel right, I was always told to “trust my gut.” I didn’t do that. I trusted their gut, convinced that I couldn’t possibly be right about what I was feeling. I stuck my head in the sand. I stayed far too long at the fair.
Our family relationships were manipulated and used against each other. Can you feel the love?
Yet, I persevered, thinking the Program was the only way to go.
Ick, that’s embarrassing to admit.
Today, my kid and I are working on repairing the damage.
After my kid graduated, and I was away from the program for a while, the effects of the kool-aid began to wear off. I suffered through bouts of overwhelming sadness, then anger, sometimes confusion, sometimes I just felt plain stupid.
Then this website came along. Now, it gets better every day.
Thank you to my wiser-than-me kid who gently steered me to this website - I admire your courage.
Many thanks to the web masters for all they do, to the wonderful people who post here, AND to my email buddies from this site (you know who you are.) It’s good to learn that it was way more than a case of me being spiritually unfit.
- Enthusiastic Sobriety Survivor Parent. Originally posted OnTheEmmis.com. 2004
