I thank you for sharing your experiences & look forward to reading more. I'm a mom of 4 sons (now ages 19-27) & I've written about parenting, raising, & educating boys for years. I so appreciate your perspective b/c we all go into (& often, through) parenting wanting to believe that IF WE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT, everything will be right, okay, good. And it's simply not true. There are no guarantees. Good parents, good moms, great families raise kids who overdose, who sell drugs to others who overdose, who die my suicide, who commit crimes. It's an unsettling truth most of us don't want to grapple with, but I think we need to, both as parents and as society, so we can better learn how to support one another.
Oh, thank you for being here Jennifer. I've jumped over to subscribe to the great work you're doing. We must be willing to be real or we don't learn a darn thing! Linking arms with you, friend.
I've just spent the half hour reading your stuff & I am so moved -- empathy, anger, sadness. You & your son were failed by the community, by society, in ways that were/are still so common. And our oldest sons are the same age. If you're willing, some day I'd love to do a Substack Live or cross post with you.
You have a beautiful voice for a complicated subject, but your unconditional love for your son and compassion for other mothers in your position comes through in a very genuine and enlightening way. 💕
This morning I had an hour-long conversation with a mom who lost her 21 year-old daughter to a drug overdose. The drugs were provided to her by her boyfriend, a master manipulator who witnessed a previous girlfriend die in the exact same way.
This guy waited an hour to call 9-1-1 while daughter died on the floor. Mom is aware of this.
Despite it all, she maintains a brightness of spirit and a goodness of heart that is nothing short of awe-inspiring. She is hurt to her core, but endures and flourishes in the face of what the uninitiated would deem to be insurmountable odds.
This same spirit resonates through your writing. Your experience is one of the more powerful that I have read on this platform, and I cannot overstate its impact. I would again like to thank you for your honesty and vulnerability.
Just like the mom above, your battle with this matters, not just for you but for the entire human condition. Keep up the good work.
We will get through this and he will change the world in whatever ways are needed. I could not be more grateful for your spirit, your love and encouragement, for all of the honesty you've put out into this world. Love you, dear friend.
This: “in spite of my desire to remain inoffensive…”. This right here is what makes you great.
I so so relate to the not wanting to speak in case people misunderstand me thing - to the point where I avoid talking about anything political with virtually anyone. But d’you know what? That makes me part of the problem.
You were scared and you showed up anyway - which makes you a badass. Beautiful piece and well said.
Love you, hate the title, and I get that you hint that you are not the "responsible party," but you have to KNOW that you are not them and they are not you! Eff society and it's norms!!! In my circles, we talk about the 3-C's. You didn't cause it, you can't control it, and you can't cure it. You sharing your experience, strength, and hope is the key to healing for you and for others who choose to read and heal as well. Love your empathy and understanding written so graciously! Love YOU!!!
I thank you for sharing your experiences & look forward to reading more. I'm a mom of 4 sons (now ages 19-27) & I've written about parenting, raising, & educating boys for years. I so appreciate your perspective b/c we all go into (& often, through) parenting wanting to believe that IF WE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT, everything will be right, okay, good. And it's simply not true. There are no guarantees. Good parents, good moms, great families raise kids who overdose, who sell drugs to others who overdose, who die my suicide, who commit crimes. It's an unsettling truth most of us don't want to grapple with, but I think we need to, both as parents and as society, so we can better learn how to support one another.
Oh, thank you for being here Jennifer. I've jumped over to subscribe to the great work you're doing. We must be willing to be real or we don't learn a darn thing! Linking arms with you, friend.
I've just spent the half hour reading your stuff & I am so moved -- empathy, anger, sadness. You & your son were failed by the community, by society, in ways that were/are still so common. And our oldest sons are the same age. If you're willing, some day I'd love to do a Substack Live or cross post with you.
You have a beautiful voice for a complicated subject, but your unconditional love for your son and compassion for other mothers in your position comes through in a very genuine and enlightening way. 💕
Thank you for reading again, and for being such a support. I'm truly grateful for you.
This morning I had an hour-long conversation with a mom who lost her 21 year-old daughter to a drug overdose. The drugs were provided to her by her boyfriend, a master manipulator who witnessed a previous girlfriend die in the exact same way.
This guy waited an hour to call 9-1-1 while daughter died on the floor. Mom is aware of this.
Despite it all, she maintains a brightness of spirit and a goodness of heart that is nothing short of awe-inspiring. She is hurt to her core, but endures and flourishes in the face of what the uninitiated would deem to be insurmountable odds.
This same spirit resonates through your writing. Your experience is one of the more powerful that I have read on this platform, and I cannot overstate its impact. I would again like to thank you for your honesty and vulnerability.
Just like the mom above, your battle with this matters, not just for you but for the entire human condition. Keep up the good work.
I am so grateful for you and for your work both here and in the world. Thank you for seeing something here and for supporting my voice.
Thank you for your transparency. Thank you for sharing your soul. Thank you for making me/us think.
I wait and look forward to every word you write. Please never stop.
As Moms we do the best we can. And it guts us when they choose a different path.
I think of you and your beloved son all the time. You both have much to teach us.
I have to believe and trust he will come through this. And know that he has a Mom who is present for him
Loving and caring for him.
Thank you for being the light that we all need. Love you. And PS never entertain the idea that you are a failed Mom.
We will get through this and he will change the world in whatever ways are needed. I could not be more grateful for your spirit, your love and encouragement, for all of the honesty you've put out into this world. Love you, dear friend.
This: “in spite of my desire to remain inoffensive…”. This right here is what makes you great.
I so so relate to the not wanting to speak in case people misunderstand me thing - to the point where I avoid talking about anything political with virtually anyone. But d’you know what? That makes me part of the problem.
You were scared and you showed up anyway - which makes you a badass. Beautiful piece and well said.
And now, you've made me cry. I appreciate you so!
Love you, hate the title, and I get that you hint that you are not the "responsible party," but you have to KNOW that you are not them and they are not you! Eff society and it's norms!!! In my circles, we talk about the 3-C's. You didn't cause it, you can't control it, and you can't cure it. You sharing your experience, strength, and hope is the key to healing for you and for others who choose to read and heal as well. Love your empathy and understanding written so graciously! Love YOU!!!