Review by Booklist Review
"Parenting is hard. Recovery is hard," says Benton. When you combine the two, the challenges multiply. For parents in recovery (PIRs), the process of recovery is so much more than just stopping drug and alcohol abuse. There are physical, psychological, social, and spiritual issues that carry over for years. Benton, who had seven years of recovery before she became a mother, knows the struggles firsthand. Addiction, by nature, drives the user inward; parenting, by nature, requires an outward focus. Benton interviews parents in various stages of recovery, sharing their personal stories. Addiction is a family disease, says the author, and often counseling can help the PIR, other parent, and children set boundaries and give support. She discusses parenting styles, the need to find an identity and take time for self-care, and how to cope with the additional burden of mental illness. She offers helpful suggestions from PIRs on the front line for social living while sober. Each chapter ends with journal excerpts citing Benton's personal experience. Parents facing these challenges will feel understood and supported.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Mental health and drug and alcohol counselor Benton, who had already experienced seven years of recovery from an alcohol-use disorder before becoming a parent, wrote this guide to help parents and their families. This all-inclusive resource includes counsel for couples' relationships, work and life balance, self-care, and even career navigation. Her book shows that parenting and addiction recovery are both arduous, and removing a substance doesn't necessarily eliminate the behaviors that sparked and fueled the substance-use disorder. Benton asserts that a recovery lifestyle must be formed with a new pattern of beliefs and actions, allowing for ongoing growth which reduces the potential for relapse. Each chapter concludes with tips from other parents in recovery, and there are a few entries from the author's own journal as well. She views recovery as a time of reclaiming identity, and this book equips readers to find balance, handle mental health conditions, form long-term plans, and more. She also addresses feelings of shame and concerns about children inheriting the genetic components of substance-use disorder. VERDICT This book is an essential resource that fills a gap in offerings for parents in recovery. It shows readers the necessity for self-compassion while guarding for vulnerabilities.
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