What Next? When Your Kid Steals Your Van

I am writing this book because I want to share my story. As much as I have been living a very blessed life, my family has also endured hardships I want to share in hopes of offering some comfort and strength to others. Some of these hardships I have endured I have caused and some have come maybe as a result of my actions. Yet I have learned over the years that God forgives me every day, and if he can forgive me, then so can I. My story started many years before I realized my oldest son was struggling with drugs and addictions, however, this story takes place during one of the years with these struggles. I want to share how drugs, lies and deceit can tear a family apart; however, I also want to give hope that it is possible to pull through. As parents, it is so important that we not turn our backs to our kids' drug use. It is easy to pretend there is no problem; that your kid is just smoking a little pot or drinking a few beers - after all, didn't we do the same thing when we were young? However, the potency of the drugs today is much stronger than just a few decades ago and one can argue that so is the pressure. As parents, we can't afford to deny that if our kids are drinking alcohol, smoking pot or using other stimuli at a young age, there are potential dangers lurking. There is also an additional factor to consider; are we as parents ready to unveil our children's drug use, recreational or not, and face the consequences? I have felt the judgments of others; I have felt the pain of admitting that my kid is an addict and I know how my parenting skills have been questioned by others: does she not have any control over that kid? Countless times during Jacob's struggles and lack of cooperation did I want to give up, but at the same time I knew from the bottom of my heart that giving up was not an option. I am writing this book about my family's journey through Jacob's struggles with drugs and addiction because, in many regards, it changed me profoundly. It opened my eyes to powers outside of myself and to truly trust in God. Writing the book was healing for me and once I decided to write down some of the craziness we were living through, the book took on a life of its own. Some of the things I am writing about are so out-of-this world extreme that I couldn't have made them up. I don't try to pretend I know anything more than what I have lived through, but I have come to realize there is a pattern that families follow when dealing with adolescent addiction and mental health problems - and this pattern is repetitive. As you will come to read, when living with an addict, the same situations are happening over and over again; hence the year I write about is very similar to the year following.... If this is what you are encountering, then know that you are not alone!
About the Author: Ingrid Serck-Hanssen is passionate about giving children the opportunity to grow up in a drug-free world. Born and raised in Norway in an era when drugs were not commonly accessible, she was fortunate enough to be in an environment where drugs were never offered; hence she didn't need to make a decision whether to try or not to try them. Ingrid wants children growing up today to get the same break, but first, the cycle of shame must be broken; parents must stand up and speak up! Ingrid moved from Norway to Minnesota in 1991 with her then husband who started graduate school at the University of Minnesota. After years of dealing with infertility, together they adopted Jacob through open adoption in 1992. Even after getting divorced a few short years later, they both continued living in Minnesota. In 2001, as a single parent, Ingrid adopted her second son, Cameron. She knows the impact drugs can have - not only on the teenager, but also on the entire family. Drug use and abuse can tear a family apart. It is her hope to be able to raise awareness to the impact early drug use and addiction can have on teenagers, on their development and motivation and their drive to succeed in life. She also urges parents not to turn their backs on their kids' drug use - even if recreational. "Confront your children and know there are a lot of treatment options available," she insists. Ingrid has also learned through her own journey, that at the end of the day, it isn't up to us as parents. Our young adults have to take responsibility for their own actions. As a parent, it can be tempting, or simply instinct, to take on your child's crusade toward sobriety, but through many setbacks, Ingrid learned the importance of setting boundaries and letting her son, Jacob, take responsibility for his own recovery. Ingrid currently lives in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN, with her husband and two sons.