In a world where drinking alcohol is glorified as a coping tool for difficult parenting moments, staying sober and raising kids is definitely a challenge. Each age group comes with it's own conflicts and struggles, but many parents find the teen years in particularly to be emotionally exhausting. If you're in recovery, chances are you already have a hard time managing emotions sometimes. Adding the stress of teenagers to the mix can really throw you for a loop.
On the other hand though, your recovery gives you an incredible opportunity to really show up for your kids. In today's episode, we chat with Amos, Seija, and Robbie about how their sobriety has affected their parenting, and what they've learned since showing up sober for their teens.
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Robbie Pike started his sobriety journey due to being sick of the same old story he would put himself though. He found his cannabis and alcohol use getting worse as the years went on. He used them to cope with everything and anything. He is now over two years sober, and couldn’t be happier with his decision to take on this new journey.
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My name is Seija, I am a grateful recovering alcoholic. I have been sober since April 10, 2015. I grew up in the Chicagoland area and we moved to the Denver suburbs in 2014. I am the proud Mom to three sweet young adults; Jackson (23), Maya (19) and Lincoln (14). I am also thankful to be walking this recovery journey with my partner, Greg, and grateful to do life with him.
I am fortunate to be able to be of service in many ways in my life - my career in an assisted living community, volunteer work as a victim advocate with a local police department and a proud Board member at our recovery club.
I am thankful to be able to work with many women in sobriety, honored to be trusted with their story and watch them grow & glow.
If I could share one bit of advice, I’d remind people in early sobriety that nothing will change if nothing changes. I can’t expect the results to come from the work I don’t do - in every area of my life. Just keep going, I promise life only gets better in sobriety!
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Amos Dupuis has been sober for 29 months, embracing a new life filled with opportunities beyond imagination. He attributes his journey to the guidance of his higher power, giving gratitude for the doors that have opened—and the ones that have closed with purpose. With a renewed sense of love and possibility, he is experiencing a life that feels truly limitless.
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"That's the goal: to help our kids exceed us."
Episode Highlights:
- How to show up when our kids are going through hard times
- The added pressure of single parenting
- Learning to balance being the friend with being the parent
- Helping our kids cope with their own trauma
- Supporting them without absorbing their emotions
- How to work through all of the regrets we have about our drinking days
- Taking to teens about your recovery
- How your recovery community will also benefit your teens
- Setting the example
- Keeping conversations open - even when they're difficult conversations
If you need more support and advice for parenting, make sure you check out Episode 87: Talking to Your Kids About Your Addiction.
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We'd love to hear about your experiences with raising teenagers now that you're sober. Come join the conversation on Instagram or Facebook!
