Meet Paula,* a mom who was lost. Her 14-year-old son was sneaking out at night. He was distant and angry. His drastic behavior changes made her wonder if he was depressed or if the marijuana he was using was laced with something else.
Having a peer coach to talk to–one who wouldn't judge her and who was equipped with resources and tools to share–made an incredible difference.
“The biggest surprise was just feeling like I wasn’t crazy, and I wasn’t alone,” she said. “The moment I felt desperate was the moment I felt most disconnected. This program reminded me there’s tons of parents dealing with this, whether they know it or not.”
Recently, Paula and her son were driving home through a storm. It was only about a two-mile drive, but it was flooding, and the weather was severe. As she was driving, Paula’s son kept his hand on her shoulder until they got home safely.
Those days when he was disconnected, when he didn’t want to be hugged, have passed.
“He’s back,” she said. “He’s very loving person. It’s taken a while, but we’re back to where we were. Maybe it’s different, but that’s ok.”
*Paula has requested that we not share her picture or last name to protect her family's privacy. You can read a longer version of her story here.
