This is a guest post by Jack Petti, CEO of Renaissance Recovery on the value of sober living when you are a parent.
Addiction and parenting cannot be mixed. Nobody wants to become a parent when they are fighting their own battle with substance addiction. However, several common trends nowadays push and even encourage parents to rely on alcohol when they are stressed out.
Thankfully, a considerable number of parents who know the importance of sober living for great parenting have expressed their negative response towards wine mom culture and cocktail playdates.
If you have a gut feeling that you are getting addicted to a certain substance or want to become sober to become a compassionate and attentive parent, find the professional assistance at the earliest. And remember, your affection and love for your kids, in such cases, can be your initial source of power that can drive you to reach out for help.
Quitting drugs and alcohol can be beneficial in many ways, but most importantly, it helps you be there with your children with all of your heart. Once you understand the benefits of sober living for your own life and parenting, you can start to incorporate your goals as a parent into your journey towards long-lasting recovery. But before we discuss the benefits of sobriety to become a great parent, let us first discuss what that really is.
What Is Sober Living?
Addicted individuals, once their inpatient rehab is over, are often suggested to get transferred to sober living homes. Their stay in such facilities normally ranges from a couple of months to a year.
Even though there are different types of sober living homes around, they all lead patients to live a substance-free life. They even conduct timely drug testing and allow patients to get a job to make some money.
In a nutshell, through several self-improvement programs, sober living homes work hard to turn an addicted patient into a better person. They encourage you to continue education, work on your skills, perform well at work and other similar amenities.
Here are some of the benefits of sober living for a parent:
You can be present with your children.
This is the most immediate and clear benefit of sober living. Addiction often makes you a self-centered person and keeps you unaware of several things around you. As a parent, sober living helps you to be with your kids in all of their special moments.
No matter how hard you try, that high you get from drugs and alcohol tends to isolate you from your everyday family interactions mentally. When you are sober, you can enjoy your time with children and actually remember it. With the required attention and mindfulness, sobriety allows you to experience one of the best things in life — watching your children grow!
You set an example for your children.
Your children learn from your actions. If you are an addict, the chances of your kids following your steps are more as the substance addiction of a parent has a profound influence on children. Kids from a household where at least one parent is addicted are far more likely to develop an addiction in themselves due to environmental and genetic factors. Moreover, such children are at a higher risk of direct negative effects of their parents’ addiction, such as parental neglect or abuse, and indirect effects like lesser household resources. According to the data from child welfare workers, most children placed in out-of-home care have at least one parent with drug or alcohol addiction.
When you live a sober life, it teaches your children how a healthy lifestyle can be. In essence, you set an example for them on how to tackle even the major obstacles in life with great strength and perseverance. If you have younger children, they may overlook the benefits of your sobriety at first, but as they grow, they will realize how hard you tried hard to pull yourself out of that disastrous situation and led a sober life.
It keeps your children safe.
Children’s safety needs your utmost attention and alertness. Substance addiction can cause child neglect and, worse, child endangerment. Addicted parents are often seen neglecting their kids when they are under the influence. There are also some cases when they drive under the influence while the kids are in the car. Being sober makes you attentive and more caring towards your children. The best part — kids feel much safer in the care of sober parents.
You have more energy for parenting.
You have to invest a lot of energy when you are a parent. It isn’t easy to be present for your kid if you are hungover or under the influence. On the other hand, sober living eliminates the drowsiness and lack of stamina that come with addiction. It helps you keep up with all the demands of successful parenting.
Final Note
You are the biggest example for your children to lead their lives. Being an addict to a certain substance can not only take a major toll on your parenting skills but also ruin the lives of your children. If you or your partner is under active addiction, this is the right time to contact a reputable rehab. Professional help from a knowledgeable and compassionate medical team can lead your life to holistic wellness, foster long-lasting sobriety, and encourage you to be a great parent.
