The Bomb or the Gift

This week Sarah's counselor at the Ranch is expected to recommend her next course of recovery treatment to allow us and Sarah time to discuss, agree, and adjust our lives. Target timeframe for her transition away from the Ranch and to the next phase o f recovery is August 18th, just 3 days after her birthday. We anticipate that the original recovery plan will be pretty close to what was recommended six weeks ago!

Depending on your viewpoint as an addict or as a supportive family member, the next phase may feel like a bomb or a gift. At the very time Sarah had planned to start college life, she will be face very different decisions. The preferred options are to move to a halfway house or to restart her young adult life in Michigan. It is what it is! The gift of life or the effects of a disease-bred bomb.

What about coming home to central Indiana? Too great a risk of collateral damage. We will not support that step because of the numerous triggers of people, places, things. BF is here somewhere and even if he's in "treatment" himself, in jail, or sliding from job to job, the idea is a DUD! The two need to focus on their own recovery and not go to 12 step-meetings together, or fall into theaddictive habits with the bad guys! Been there, done that, got some jail-time to prove it. But, as said before, she's gotta commit to her recovery and work the plan. Clearly, we think coming to central Indiana will be suicide.

Preferred solution? Halfway House, a radical change for sure, will seamlessly continue the pathway to recovery! The goal of the next phase of recovery is to strengthen her independent living skills in a quasi-protected, accountable environment. As you know by now, our thoughts and hers do not always agree. Time, a very short time, will unravel the mystery. Bomb or gift?

Michigan? We are starting steps to get the house in shape to sell. Realistically selling the house will take a year or more but the ball is rolling with planned repairs about to start. The harder part, adjusting our life-plans, was agreed quickly by S&R, although not without examining commitments, insurance options, and the will to execute. Should Sarah insist on Michigan, Susan and Sarah will leave directly from the Ranch to seek a place to stay, jobs, and maybe a little school. 90-in-90 recovery meetings will be on the day schedule. The timer has been set!

Boom baby!