Every once in a while I will write a post about my father, his drug addiction, jail time, and early death. And every time someone messages me with this question: I had a similar relationship with my father/mother. How did you tell your children?
This is going to sound harsh, but what I’ve learned is that your kids don’t care about your difficult childhood. They care about the childhood you are giving them.
So go ahead and tell them. Then take all that absence, all that longing for a stable family, all that unmet need for consistency, all those snuggles and kisses and understanding you needed as a child, and give it to your children.
Be the parent you needed as a child, because that’s all that really matters
Yes, it’s a hard reality, particularly for those of us who had to live through a childhood with a drug addicted parent. But trust me, this is what breaking the cycle looks like. It’s hard, but it’s worth it.
Be the parent I didn’t have, the grandmother I didn’t have. We all reap the love.
I read about and see pictures of you and your family and know that your past is not defining your future. You are amazing <3