| One of the things I see happen all the time with | | | | Every single time their child gets into trouble with |
| parents and their teenagers is that they do not do | | | | drugs or anything they come up with excuses and |
| what is necessary in order to help their own child. | | | | bail the child out. This kid has never paid the price for |
| There are steps that you need to take in order to | | | | his actions. |
| help your child break the addiction they live under. | | | | Those parents are in denial. |
| However, what I see happen at times is that the | | | | They have a self-protecting behavior that keeps |
| parents are either unable or unwilling to do what is | | | | them from honestly facing the truth." |
| necessary to help their own children. | | | | This is probably the first step in helping your child deal |
| I don't think it is because we are bad parents or that | | | | with drug abuse. You have to take an honest look at |
| we don't care, I just think it is either we don't know | | | | yourself and ask... |
| what to do or we do not have the resolve to do | | | | - Am I making excuses for my child |
| what is necessary in order to help our children. | | | | - Am I making excuses for my own reactions |
| But sometimes I will watch parents operate out of a | | | | You see excuses are coping skills we have developed |
| state of denial. Even when their child is messing up, | | | | since childhood and they follow us into adult hood. |
| not coming home, not doing what they had promised | | | | They allow us to deny the truth and not have to |
| to do, the parents will continue to allow them to live | | | | deal with what is front of us. If we were to be |
| in a state of rebellion. | | | | honest making excuses and denying the truth in front |
| Denial has been defined as "a false system of beliefs | | | | of us helps us deal with our own guilt. |
| that are not based on reality" and "a self-protecting | | | | Parents who have teens using drugs deal with a lot |
| behavior that keeps us from honestly facing the | | | | of guilt and the way parents deal with this guilt is by |
| truth." | | | | denying the truth. Making excuses! |
| Parents will more than often come up with excuses | | | | Let me say this right now. Deal with the guilt you |
| and things that keep them from seeing the truth | | | | may have, but do not allow your own feelings hinder |
| about what is taking place in their Childs life. | | | | the recovery of your own child. Stop denying and |
| For instance, I know of parents who will continue to | | | | making excuses for your child and begin working with |
| bail out their child every time they get into trouble. | | | | the reality that is front of you. |