About my situation...

[stressedoutmommy]

I was asked about what my situation is... I am 32 years old, and my son Joshua is 4. Everything started to go wrong for me in September 2005 when I got into a car accident while I was pregnant. I think I having problems because I thought I miscarried about a month and a half after I found out I was pregnant. Then I was heavily into drugs, so I continued to party, doing speed, weed, cigarettes, alchohol, you name it. After my accident, I found out that I didn't miscarry, and I was now 4 and a half months pregnant. I spent a month in the hospital with a broken leg, and my jaw wired shut, tied to the bed, and wondering why I had a tube coming out of my neck and where I was after being in a coma for 10 days. I still don't remember the accident, and they said I was under the influence of weed, speed, and alchohol, and that I had been in a head-on collision. Once I got out of the hospital, I continued to get high because my son's father was. About a month or so later, I got arrested, and ended up going to prison for DUI with great bodily injury for 8 months. So, my son was born in prison... I had him for 2 days before my Mom came and took him home. A bunch of stuff happened after that, and I was off parole for a couple years and went back cuz I started getting high again and got caught up. I paroled again in March of 2009. Three days later, Chris, my son's father hung himself on the front door of my mom's house. Since then, I have been struggling with my sobriety and have been kicked out of my mom's trailer park cuz of my crime. We are now homeless, staying wherever we can, and I have no transportation to get anything done.
So there it is. There is so much more but that is the summary of my situation, and why I am looking for options on what to do with Josh til I can pull it together again.

[Kozzy]

I'm sorry for all your struggles....is there any family that can take custody of your child...or you may want to consider foster care while you go into a long term program/counseling.
I know how hard it is when you have addictions..I had some of the same issues with addiction before I had kids....eons ago....you have to make the decision to fight with everything you have to get your life straight for your kid....that's who you live for now.

[idig]

http://www.drugandalcoholrehabchoice...ured_site.html

I came across this which lists a rehab program for single parents in AZ. Looks like you call the 800 number and they try to help you find a place that meets your needs. Maybe they would be a good place to start? Might be able to point you in the right direction.

I have to say that I admire your concern for your son's well being. Thoughts and prayers are with you. Let us know how things go.

[sara1]

Good luck and well wishes! Sounds like you have a hard road ahead of you but you can do it. I think sometimes our children give us the strength to do better things for ourselves when without them we may not have had the strength.

[Dad1st4boys]

I agree with everyone else, and I'd like to add that getting away from your old hangouts and people will help a lot. Get out of CA if you can. Get help, ask for help, if that palce cannot help. Go to the next place. Keep looking and don't stop trying.

[idig]

http://www.marinservicesforwomen.org/programs.html

MSW's Residential Recovery Program is organized and staffed to provide both general and specialized non-hospital-based interdisciplinary services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for women with alcohol and drug addictions. A limited number of clients can bring a child age five and under to reside with them in the Residential Recovery Program.

Here is one for low income, they have a child development center for children 5 and under while mom goes through her program, they also have education and job training service.

[Bluemoon]

Originally Posted by idig

http://www.marinservicesforwomen.org/programs.html

Here is one for low income, they have a child development center for children 5 and under while mom goes through her program, they also have education and job training service.

This looks excellent to me. Great job, Idig!
Stressedoutmommy, you absolutely must address your addiction issues as top priority or it will destroy anything else you try to do. You need help to do this.
I now understand far better why you were looking for foster care for your son, and I agree with you. If you can get into a program like the one above that would be great, but if you can't then I think talking to social services (or child protective services) about foster care would be much better than trying to continue as you are. CPS and other agencies are not in the business of breaking up families, their goal is to make families work well enough to be good for the children. They will help you if they can.
I am so sorry for the misfortune you have suffered, but you can turn all this into a postive thing if you work hard and turn it all around. It will make you stronger, wiser, and better able to help others than you would have been had you not gone through it. Good luck and God bless.

[idig]

I have to add, that while agree your child should be the most important thing in your life, sobriety has to come from you and for you. I am sure you know that already. Best of wishes for you and your son.

[LSL]

Originally Posted by idig

I have to add, that while agree your child should be the most important thing in your life, sobriety has to come from you and for you. I am sure you know that already. Best of wishes for you and your son.

I agree. While you don't want state involvement, the path you are headed down right now is going to bring it right to you. In the last 2 years, I have seen parents just like you, not be able to kick the monkey on their back, and end up losing their children. It was not about loving their kids, they all did, it's about sobriety and the power the drugs can have over you.

[Mommyofone]

Originally Posted by idig

I have to add, that while agree your child should be the most important thing in your life, sobriety has to come from you and for you. I am sure you know that already. Best of wishes for you and your son.

I so agree with that.... i know children should come first but when it comes to addicts that unless they quit for themselves and no one else they usually didnt make it or it was so much harder. Im not saying dont have other reasons too; but main one has to be for you. Just remember your child will always love you and you always have someone to talk too! you will be in my prayers!

<3333333

[mamabear87]

Originally Posted by Bluemoon

This looks excellent to me. Great job, Idig!
Stressedoutmommy, you absolutely must address your addiction issues as top priority or it will destroy anything else you try to do. You need help to do this.
I now understand far better why you were looking for foster care for your son, and I agree with you. If you can get into a program like the one above that would be great, but if you can't then I think talking to social services (or child protective services) about foster care would be much better than trying to continue as you are. CPS and other agencies are not in the business of breaking up families, their goal is to make families work well enough to be good for the children. They will help you if they can.
I am so sorry for the misfortune you have suffered, but you can turn all this into a postive thing if you work hard and turn it all around. It will make you stronger, wiser, and better able to help others than you would have been had you not gone through it. Good luck and God bless.

I will have to agree. To turn to Social services or CPS for help in your situation will look good in their eyes in the long haul. Better to turn to them for help then for them to find you or your son in a bad situation and then take him from you. I had a friend that turned to CPS for help (she had a drug problem) with her kid and they helped her find what she needed to do for herself and her kid. She is now drug free, has a degree, has a good job, has a house, and still has her kid. It can be done. Just got to find the right source of help for you. Good luck and I hope that things look up for you.

[JodiB]

Please message me privately, I am a Single Mom in Recovery (20 months sober.) There are a lot of gory details I am not wanting revealed in the posts. Just know that you are not ALONE!

[Bluemoon]

Originally Posted by JodiB

Please message me privately, I am a Single Mom in Recovery (20 months sober.) There are a lot of gory details I am not wanting revealed in the posts. Just know that you are not ALONE!

Congrats Jodi on the 20 months! WTG!!!

[Dad1st4boys]

Way to go Jodi, All we can do is one day at a time.

[YJL279]

Outstanding, Jodi! Try to give an update Stressedoutmommy! We care about you and want to know how you are doing!