A Dedication to Parents...

This post is to honor all the parents out there who are living with their children's addiction in one way or another. And most importantly, this post is dedicated to my parents...who, as far as I am concerned, are the BEST parents in the world. I hope to be as good of a parent to my son.
My parents just helped me to buy a new car yesterday. Let me clarify that, my parents put their name on the paperwork because my credit is too bad. And my parents helped out with the down payment, much of the money came from dividends that they have been holding for me and they kicked in the rest. They want me to give them the monthly payment, which they are going to put in account for later, and they are actually making the payment themselves. So, essentially, my parents just bought me a car yesterday.
And I appreciate it so, so very much. Five years ago, they probably would not have given me twenty bucks...and rightly so, because I would have just spent it on heroin. And yesterday, they bought me a car. I have turned my life around; I am back in school, working, and being the best mother that I can. But, more importantly, my parents acknowledge this, and they believe in me once more. They believe that I am doing the right thing, and they believe that I will succeed. And it feels so wonderful.
It has been a long road. There have been a lot of bumps in the road. It has been more hard than easy at times, but it is all worth it. I am so thankful that my parents have been so good to me, throughout my entire life.
In my addiction, I thought they were wrong. I thought they could have acted, or reacted much differently. But, in my sobriety, I know that if their actions had not been so harsh at times...I might not be alive today, and I most certainly would not be where I am now. If they had bailed me out so many times that I once thought they should, I would not have gotten clean, I would have kept right on doing what I was doing. And I want to thank them for both their kindness and their toughness. I am truly blessed.
I am so thankful that they trust me again. I am so thankful that they believe in me again. I am so thankful to have such a close relationship with my parents now because they really are two of the three most important people in my world. Without them, my life would not be possible. Without them, my sobriety would not be constant. And without them, my life would just not be so good. Without them, my life would not be as fulfilling.
To those parents who are still suffering at the hands of their children's addiction, I hope and pray that you, too, will one day be in the position that my parents are in today. Stay strong. You know what is right. Don't back down, and stick to your convictions. And don't stop loving (but all of us as parents know that we cannot stop loving.) Addiction is a tough and heartbreaking road. But, as the saying goes what does not kill us will only make us stronger, and such is very true in my case.
I am stronger than I ever imagined five years ago, even stronger than I imagined two years ago. My relationship with my family, my parents especially, is stronger than it has ever been. My dreams and goals are stronger than they have ever been. And my life is finally stronger than it has been, too. And I could not have done any of this without my Mom and Dad. (Well, stepdad...but that term does not seem to give him enough credit, because he is my DAD.) My parents are my heroes, my rocks, and most importantly, my family. Without them, I am not sure where I would be. Today, I am one of the luckiest people in the world.