It’s been a year since I wrote a column for Recover The Mother. I had to pause. I’ve been moving through a big change over here as an empty nest mom after 30 years of mothering my three favorite humans. Its been so quiet and I’ve been deeply introspective, but something special is unfolding now and I think it’s time for a change. My friends, Kathy Wrenn - Executive Director of Illume Family Recovery, Pam Lanhart, Executive Director of Thrive Family Recovery Resources, Jess Speight, Founder of Raindance Productions and I are creating a film documentary for families about families and recovery. It’s been a dream of ours for a few years now.
The Family Recovery Documentary transforms outdated practices, empowering families on their recovery journey with compassionate, inspirational stories and expert insights.
We are currently in development, raising funding (almost halfway to the goal) and anticipate a Fall/Winter 2024 launch. We are lining up some of the most heartwarming stories and brilliant experts to share with you with the intent to shift the paradigm even further. My desire here is to bring you along and share about the making of the film as we move through the process.
Two films changed my heart and mind forever in the realms of addiction and recovery nine years ago when we were facing addiction in our family. The Anonymous People and Pleasure Unwoven. One gave me a deep history around the recovery movement, stigma, policy and inadequate responses to addiction and the other was pure brain science using nature as a metaphor and an easy to understand narrative. Both of the films made me believe Recovery was possible. There hasn't been an adequately compelling film centered on Families and Recovery that I have found yet. So we are making one.
After today I will be changing the name of the column and hoping you come along for the ride. I’ll share what we discover and uncover, links to resources and education that we find relevant and important innovations in how a family heals from the impact of addiction.
I’d love to hear from you and hear your stories too. If you know of someone we must talk to, please let me know!
Feel free to roam around the archives for support, understanding and wisdom shared from lived experience. This year will mark 9 years of recovery in our family. It started with the shift we will share in the film.
What happens if you do everything you have talked about in your letters, and you educate yourself and read the books and follow the CRAFT method. What if you love your person fiercely and let them know you are a part of their Recovery Team...and yet you still lose them to an accidental overdose/relapse. What then? All I am asking right now is what did I not do right?