Addicted Parents

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Did any one else see this?

Really amazing work being done with addicted parents ,seemed to have really positive outcomes too.

I know Serf me too.

I was very skeptical of that father you mention, as was my dw. For me it was particularly the bit where he appeared to be trying to get her to talk through all the life maps she'd written in a way that seemed to me to be quite controlling. And then the fact that she later said he'd been abusive to her mum for the first 7 years of her life, which she saw and such made her extremely scared.

Just caught this on iPlayer. I feel awful for Natalie A's elder son, and the way she wanted everyone to forgive her lapse the way he had. Please don't get me wrong, I feel for her too - but she'd no real understanding of how her addiction had pushed him into that caregiving role. Of course he told her it was OK. When has the poor kid ever had the chance to express anger and disappointment? I think it's going to hit him like a ton of bricks in a few years. :(

I can't believe he is only 14. My DD is 14 and she is a child, he has had to grow up so fast

Also I was quite shocked at the other Natalie leaving a 2 and 3 year old at home alone for hours at a time

It was a very sad program, but I was happy to see most the mums improving their lives at the end.

What I found most upsetting is that these children are kind of the lucky (for want of a better word) ones in that there must be so many more out there who aren't getting this chance/support

It was a hard programme to watch. The lives of all of those children will have been affected so much. It was telling that Natalie A's little boy was clearly so reluctant to go along with leaving being an adventure/fun etc, even at that young age.

I felt most for natalie a because she was abused as a baby up till 15 yrs and by more then just the one man, its no wonder she turned to drugs is it she is good person for volunterring to go to that house to want to get clean , respect to her and even though she relapsed its quite common i think it takes alot of strength to quit addictions so 8 months after and shes still off drugs well done to her and the others

Is anyone watching part two of this tonight?

I am.
Mickey is doing so well, I'm frustrated with Faye.

Yup, same. He is really really trying I think.

Hats off to the staff. They're great.

I think he would do better without her there. I think she actually really challenges his recovery.

I think she'll go and he'll keep the baby.

Agree. Seems to be the way it's going now.

Oh mickey 😭😭

God this is depressing. That poor child. And his parents face such a battle that I doubt either if them can win.

Does Kai have Down syndrome? I missed the start

It really is depressing isn't it. That poor child.

MrsDV
They had concerns about autism but said it could just be from early neglect stunting his development.
He does look to me like he has some features of foetal alcohol syndrome though

Thanks mooey
I can see him better now and that he doesn't have DS.
He does look as if he may have FAS

I thought that too about his facial features. I really hope that he and his dad do well together.

I maybe naieve here but would social services not drugs test these women say monthly to make sure they were staying clean ? Knowing your going to be tested would give these mams a reason to stay clean ? No ?

It did say in part one that one of them could leave but not with her DC so will depend what social work has in place for different families.

I don't think it's that simple cucking. Drug addicts may have the best of intentions but being pregnant and/or having children is not always enough of an incentive to stay clean. Plenty of babies are born addicted to drugs

I just wondered how ss can monitor parents who have been addicted ? Surely as a way of safe guarding the children a drug test would give an immediate indicator of present drug use and whether kids are in a safe environment ? Maybe it's un ethical

DS's birth mum was tested a few times during her SS assessment
It wasn't mandatory (I believe it is in certain US states) but it would have looked very bad if she refused.
Drugs were not her main issue, if they were I doubt she would have agreed.

The house where they live is absurdly close to a community that is a hive of crime and drugs, it has been for many years. IlIve never understood why they are housed in an area of such temptation (and many are then housed in the shitty community upon leaving and return to drugs etc).