Children can heal. My mom drank alcoholically and battled mental illness for the better part of my childhood. It was incredibly hard for my sisters and me.

But you know what? We watched her pull herself out from the deepest pit, do whatever it took to get better. And she did. I have a good relationship with my mother today. I admire her for what she did, and I know she fought so hard to get better because she loves us so much. We all had to deal with the emotional fallout of those years (not just her, there was a ton of stuff happening with my entire family) but we have slowly but surely rebuilt it all.

Actions always speak louder than words, and I’m sure they can see that you are working hard and trying. You can’t chnge the past, but you can always make your own future. I’m just coming from a place where I’ve been on both sides now, and I can tell you that yeah, it sucks to have a parent caught up in mental illness, addiction, etc. But the damage is not irreparable.

Keep pushing forward Missy.