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Meet Suzy & Jaydn

Suzy was court-ordered into an addiction treatment center and the Parent Trust Families in Recovery Program.

She has this to say about the program:
“My name is Suzy. I come from an upper middle class, two-parent upbringing. I am college educated and extremely intelligent. I am also a drug addict.

My disease does not discriminate. It has caused me to destroy everything I hold dear. I have harmed myself and everyone around me, especially my children. I used to cry while I was getting high because I so desperately wanted to stop - but I couldn’t. I would sob and sob holding my pregnant belly and telling my unborn son how sorry I was that I couldn’t stop hurting us.

I’ve had clean times, on and off, for the past 4 years as I battled my addiction; sometimes successfully, sometimes unsuccessfully. CPS (ed: Child Protective Services) has taken my son from me four times. He’s only four years old.

Like other addict moms who survive to be able to get in recovery, I suddenly found myself trying to parent my son without having learned how. I was a terrible, neglectful parent in my addiction. My addiction robbed me of self-love, so I had no idea how to teach my child to love himself. How could I raise a healthy, confident, loving child when I didn’t know how to model that in myself.

Parent Trust has shown me. This support group has been invaluable for my son’s life. I have learned through this group how to give my son structure, boundaries, balance, and confidence. It has taught me positive parenting, values, techniques, skills, and showered me with support when I had questions and self-doubt. I have learned so much. I even know how to interactively play with my son! We have so much fun together now!

Because of Parent Trust, I am radiant, confident that I am a wonderful mom. I am giving my son exactly what he needs. This program has given my son back his mom.”

Suzy’s hard work is paying off. She has completely fallen in love with her son and they have a very secure bond, a critical first step. Suzy has learned all the care skills to keep her son safe and healthy, and is creating a drug-free support system that she can depend on through these first difficult years of parenting.

Most importantly, Suzy has taken the first step in breaking the cycle of child abuse and addiction.

Being a parent is tough! Once problems arise it can be difficult to ask for help. Often individuals are aware they need guidance but aren’t sure where to start or how to ask for help. Parent Trust helps keep families safe. Due to the generosity of many supporters, Parent Trust for Washington Children reached 15,000 thousand children and families with our health, safety, and early learning programs.

Your support will impact Suzy’s son and countless other children for a lifetime. Please help us continue to keep families safe and to support Suzy and other parents like Suzy by making a donation to Parent Trust.

For a secure online donation, click on the DONATE NOW button on this page.

On behalf of Suzy and the other families helped by Parent Trust through our programs, we thank you for being a part of the Parent Trust family!

Sincerely,

Mark Buckley
Executive Director