PAL Blog
A Parent’s Story
Articles by Parents Like You
Delayed Growth: A Parent’s Path to Boundaries
I am the parent of two stepdaughters and a grandparent to seven grandchildren. When Kathy was five years old, her mother and I became a family. From an early age, my stepdaughter Kathy stood out as bright and capable. Unlike her older sister, she didn’t seem to need...
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...
The View from Recovery
Articles by People in Recovery
Purpose to Pain
It had four walls. A front seat, a back seat, and a windshield that turned the Phoenix sun into something almost unbearable. By mid‑morning, the heat would begin to rise, and by afternoon it pressed in from every direction—thick and unmoving—making it hard to breathe....
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,”...
From Counselors
Articles by PAL and Partner Counselors
When Helping Hurts: Shifting from Parenting a Child to Parenting an Adult
Adapted from The Four Seasons of Recovery, or Parents of Alcoholics and Addicts, By Michael Speakman (founder of PAL) As parents, helping our children feels instinctive. When they are struggling, hurting, or stuck, our first impulse is to step in, smooth the road,...
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...
