When both parents are in recovery from addiction

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When both parents are in recovery from addiction

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Being married to another recovering addict and starting a family together, gave my husband and I the opportunity to break the cycle of addiction. We come into this marriage together, we're both in recovery. We both understand the nature of disconnection from the active addiction, and we both come together and understand the nature of connection. Growing up, we were both disconnected. For me, the media and my peers were my absolute authority. I didn't look to my family, I looked to them. My husband was disconnected from his family. It led us both deeply into addiction and destructive behaviors. Now as my husband and I parent together, we understand the importance of connection. Not who's right, not who's better, who's idea trumps. We need to come together and understand that the connection to our children is the most important factor in allowing them to have a safe foundation of love and support in our family, so they have the opportunity and the chance to thrive and grow in the world. They are going to go through stages of exploration and finding out who they are. As we stay connected to the wonderful, little miracles they are; it gives them the opportunity to grow and know that they don't have to go out as far as they went. They don't have to go further, faster, harder to find out who they are. They can do it within the safety of our family because they know who we are and that we will be there for them.

Watch Video: When both parents are in recovery from addiction by Connor Barnas, ...

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Connor Barnas

Mom

Connor Barnas is blessed and busy, living life with her husband Ethan and two children, Magdalena June, eight, and Augustus Wolfe, six in the midst of finding the sacred in the mundane and allowing space for serenity. After being given the gift of desperation, Connor began her life of recovery and discovery within the 12 Step paradigms in 1995. In 2002 she graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art and married the love of her life, Ethan; moved to a beautiful, dusty, desert town; and began her journey as a wife and mother.  

In 2003, Connor co-founded an Attachment Parenting group, and became a leader shortly after.  Connor has been involved in the Attachment Parenting community as a leader and a resource, and was honored as a featured volunteer during Volunteer Recognition Week, April 2011 by Attachment Parenting International. 

After relocating and settling in Jacksonville, Florida, to be close to her family of origin, Connor founded HAP East, a local homeschooling group whose focus and mission is to create community and continuity of relationship for homeschooling/attachment parenting families. 

Connor joyfully shares her experience, strength and hope with families and friends in the recovery, homeschool, and AP communities; she combines the spiritual principles of the 12 steps with the practical and compassionate parenting strategies of API to inform her path and growth as a woman, mother, wife, and active member of her world. 

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Transcription: 
Being married to another recovering addict and starting a family together, gave my husband and I the opportunity to break the cycle of addiction. We come into this marriage together, we're both in recovery. We both understand the nature of disconnection from the active addiction, and we both come together and understand the nature of connection. Growing up, we were both disconnected. For me, the media and my peers were my absolute authority. I didn't look to my family, I looked to them. My husband was disconnected from his family. It led us both deeply into addiction and destructive behaviors. Now as my husband and I parent together, we understand the importance of connection. Not who's right, not who's better, who's idea trumps. We need to come together and understand that the connection to our children is the most important factor in allowing them to have a safe foundation of love and support in our family, so they have the opportunity and the chance to thrive and grow in the world. They are going to go through stages of exploration and finding out who they are. As we stay connected to the wonderful, little miracles they are; it gives them the opportunity to grow and know that they don't have to go out as far as they went. They don't have to go further, faster, harder to find out who they are. They can do it within the safety of our family because they know who we are and that we will be there for them.