Many parents find themselves in a drug rehab center after they suffer from an addiction and need professional help. For those who have children, it can be difficult to maintain a parental role and still offer your support to your child when you're away. Although you may not be with your child each day, there are a few ways to continue being a good father while you receive professional help in a facility that works with drug addictions.
Encourage Visits
According to americanaddictioncenters.org, most rehab facilities welcome children to visit their parents in the rehab center on a regular basis to maintain the relationship and keep both parties in contact with one another. You can attend educational workshops with your son or daughter while spending time with them. Remain present during each visit and give your full attention to your child to show how much you care and enjoy spending time with them. You can also have a bit of fun by playing cards, taking walks on the grounds, and by watching movies or television together.
Write Letters
Although many drug rehab centers allow phone calls to be made to family members or friends throughout the week, it's still important to communicate with letters that you write to your children. This will allow them to read different words that allow you to express yourself more than by speaking over the phone for a limited amount of time. Practice open communication by apologizing for your actions or by asking about their life to ensure that you can remain close and invested.
Take Responsibility for Your Actions
Some children may feel responsible for their father's behavior and can suffer from guilt. Make it a point to take full responsibility for your actions and communicate to your child that they did nothing wrong. According to elementsbehavioralhealth.com, you'll also need to accept and validate their feelings without becoming defensive when they are upset or are hurt. Provide them with the freedom to express themselves, which will help them to process their feelings and move on. Make it a point to apologize for your addiction and discuss why you made the wrong decisions. Offer them valuable lessons that you've learned and help them to get a better understanding of why you left the home and enrolled in a rehab center.
Ask for Help
The absence of a father can be devastating for many children who feel a void with their parent away. It's important to ask your family members or friends for their help until you return home to ensure that your child is in good hands and is cared for, according to addictioncenter.com. Ask a close male friend to take your child fishing, golfing, or to the bowling alley to ensure that they can have a bit of fun and feel safe with another adult. You can also ask your own parents to attend parent-teacher meetings at your child's school or watch their sports games to ensure that they aren't isolated or alone. Although it's natural for the child to feel neglected when you're not in the home, you can help to fill that void by asking the right people for help.
Talk About the Future
For many children, the time that their fathers are away can feel like a significant amount of time. It can be easy for kids to feel depressed or lonely as their parent seeks treatment and begins the recovery process after checking into drug rehab in Utah. Allow your child to have hope by talking about the future together. You can discuss future plans that you can make by discussing future trips that can be taken or new memories that you'll create. Avoid making promises that you can't fulfill but do your best to provide them with activities that they can look forward to once you return home.
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