I CRACKED AND SAID YES!!!

In this episode, "I CRACKED AND SAID YES," I open up about a struggle that so many parents of addicts face—the moments when, despite our best intentions, we cave in. I’ve been there. I’ve stood firm, telling myself I wouldn’t enable, that I had learned to say no. And then, in a moment of weakness, I cracked. I said yes. Maybe it was out of fear, exhaustion, or just that desperate hope that this time would be different. But it wasn’t. And the guilt that follows can be overwhelming.

I know I can’t go back to yesterday. I can’t undo the moment when I gave in. But what I can do is acknowledge it, learn from it, and decide how I’ll handle it differently next time. That’s the best I can do, and if you’re listening, I want you to know—it’s the best you can do, too.

In this episode, I talk about the emotional rollercoaster of loving an addict and the impossible battle between wanting to protect them and knowing that helping isn’t always truly helping. I share my own experience with enabling, the guilt that follows, and how I remind myself to move forward rather than dwell on past mistakes.

Setting boundaries is one of the hardest things a parent can do, especially when addiction and mental illness are involved. Saying no can feel cruel, even when you know deep down it’s necessary. But every time I stumble, I try to remind myself that boundaries aren’t just for my son—they’re for me, too. They allow me to keep my own life intact so I don’t drown in his chaos.

If you’ve ever cracked and said yes, you’re not alone. This episode is about grace—giving it to yourself, learning from the past, and choosing to move forward in a way that protects your own well-being. We can’t undo the past, but we can take control of what happens next.

Keywords: #ParentalEnabling #AddictionRecovery #SettingBoundaries #ParentSupport #FamilyHealing #MentalHealthAwareness #OvercomingGuilt #HealthyBoundaries #SupportForParents #AddictionAndFamily