The Long Middle: Parenting a Child Struggling with Addiction

Parenting Through The Hard · Feb 25, 2026 · 27m

In this episode, I share honestly about the early days when recovery enters the conversation, a season that feels both hopeful and fragile at the same time. I talk about the complicated emotions parents carry when the crisis quiets, the grief that can surface alongside relief, and what it means to stay connected to your child without guarantees.

I reflect on why I think it might be hard for families to speak openly about addiction, the fear many children carry of disappointing the people they love, and the quiet tension parents live with as they try to hold hope without hardening.

This…