PAL Blog
A Parent’s Story
Articles by Parents Like You
A PAL Mom’s Story of Hope
I am the parent of two sons, two stepsons, and also two grandchildren. Like so many parents, I never imagined the long, painful journey of loving someone with addiction. No one is prepared for it. Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL) helped me more than I can ever...
This is a Marathon not a Sprint
Right now, I do not know where my daughter is and have not seen or heard from her for over 5 months. My daughter, Chelsea, by all accounts, grew up and seemed to have everything going for her. She was involved in sports, cheerleading, and did well in school...
We Thought We Were Helping—PAL Showed Us a Better Way
My husband, Mark, and I have one child, a daughter, Anna. We are both extremely close to her, as she is a mama and daddy’s girl. Throughout her 29 years of life, and even while actively using substances, she never curses, yells at us, or tells us she hates us. This...
The View from Recovery
Articles by People in Recovery
When Spring Comes
There were years when I didn’t believe spring would ever come.Everything felt like winter—cold, uncertain, and stuck. From the outside, I’m sure my family wondered if anything good could grow from what addiction had done to all of us. Trust felt frozen. Hope felt...
The Day Love Told Me “No”
There was a time in my life when I believed love meant rescue. Love meant saying yes.Love meant coming through.Love meant giving me what I wanted, especially when I was falling apart. And I can admit it now… I had a very specific definition of “unconditional love,”...
New Beginnings
January invites us into something quiet and sacred. A pause between what was and what could be. A fresh start. And yet, new beginnings often require us to loosen our grip on things that feel familiar, even when they are painful. Sometimes the hardest part of change...
From Counselors
Articles by PAL and Partner Counselors
Spring: A Season of Hope in the PAL Recovery Journey
Spring: A Season of Hope in the PAL Recovery Journey In The Four Seasons of Recovery, Mike explains that recovery unfolds in predictable stages, much like the seasons of the year. Each season brings different challenges and opportunities for parents. As we approach...
How to show love without spending a dime
“If you won’t help me, you don’t love me!” How many exhausted parents have heard these familiar words? The last thing any parent wants is for their child to feel unloved or uncared for. When it comes to dealing with your child in the upside-down world of...
Take responsibility for your life
In 2025, author Melody Beattie died at the age of 76. The following is from Melody Beattie’s book More Language of Letting Go. She also has the following on her website melodybeattie.com. At PAL, we have a saying: take what you want and leave the rest. Many...
