Parents in recovery (PIRs) face unique challenges when socializing with friends and family who drink or use drugs. Events like birthday parties, sports gatherings, and community celebrations can feel overwhelming and trigger cravings. The normalization of alcohol at children's events has also added to the pressure. PIRs often report that their experience depends on their stage of recovery, with early recovery requiring stricter limits and longer-term recovery allowing for more comfortable participation in events with genuine purpose.
Parents in recovery have different challenges depending on phase of sobriety.Source: Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock
When their child are involved in sports and other activities, parents start to form connections with other parents and extend social invitations. There is often a spoken or unspoken expectation of drinking together. Therefore, birthdays, end-of-the-year sports/dances, and community celebrations can feel like a maze for PIRs to enter. Over the past decade, there has been a normalization of providing alcohol at children's birthday parties.
In particular, the holiday season can bring acquaintances, loved ones and family members into the picture who may not be part of our normal routines. While it may have been easier to avoid uncomfortable family interactions throughout the year, holiday celebrations bring family members together. For PIRs, this may also be a challenging time for a variety of reasons. Even those without substance use issues may find that they are consuming more than they have the rest of the year.
PARENTING RECOVERY SOCIALIZATION ALCOHOL DRUG USE
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