Just a Normal Family: A Story for Children & Families Dealing with Addiction

"Just a Normal Family" is a story about the impact of addiction upon a child and her family, told from multiple points of view of the different fictional characters in the story. It includes the point of view of the child herself, the child's alcoholic parent, the spouse of the addict, grandparents, and others affected by the mother's addiction, including the daughter's childhood friend, and school personnel (a teacher, a school nurse, a soccer coach), who were also there to see the damaging effects of the parent's addiction. The purpose of telling the story about the impact of addiction from multiple viewpoints is to show the complex and tangled web that this disease creates in the lives of those affected. It is the authors' hope that this book will help those who struggle with addiction as well as professionals who are working in the field of addiction and mental health. The book also includes an important educational section with useful tips and real-life strategies for helping children and adolescents affected by addiction.