My Heart Goes Out to Britney & Family

After having gone through a stressful time with one of my teens a few years back, I can only imagine what Britney and her family are going through right now. I am sure it has been hard enough trying to grow up like any other person as a teen, but to have that coupled with stardom and other stresses have to have added to what ultimately pushed her limits. It wasn't bad enough she has already been in and out of drug rehab, but now a mental institute? It hits too close to home, just how difficult it is for some to handle the pressures of life, let alone success at an early age. Will keep a positive thought, that she gets things turned around for her sake, as well as her sons. They are too precious, and the longer it takes, the more of their childhood she will miss spending with them.

Addicted to Love!

These days there are addictions to everything, sex, alcohol, chocolate, video games, internet surfing, smoking, drugs, and so much more. It's funny though that most of these addictions don't have similar rehab centers like the drug rehabs. Oh wait! I forgot addicted to love!

I have a coworker who, after swearing off men, is all of a sudden in love! It's really quite nice to see her so happy, but she has admitted to not being able to concentrate on work, is having restless nights, and has an unquenchable urge to just get up and head up the road to see her man!

Well, what would a rehab for an addiction to love look like? What would you do there? How would you know you are cured? I know ... when you no longer have the butterflies in your stomach ... but wait, that's a good feeling! All right, no love rehab! We like our "Annie" just the way she is ... happy!

PS I can totally relate ;)

Will taking Britney's children from her help?

One wonders if this move will be successful in turning this young mother around. Even though she spent a month in drug rehab it proved not nearly enough to get her started in the right direction. I feel for her only to the extent that she lives under far greater scrutiny than most of us, however there are children involved and as a mother of five you worry about their safety. It's hard enough for parents who behave properly to protect their children 100% of the time, but how much more difficult is has to be for parents who are behaving improperly? Only time will tell if the decision to take the children from Britney was a productive one, we can hope for the best! Our best wishes for success Britney!

As I've often told my children's absent parent, when you love them, you will do whatever you have to in order to maintain a healthy, loving relationship with your children. After all, submitting to random drug tests and completing a parenting class is far less a consequence than others have received for similar behavior. So, if learning to be a better parent enables them to keep their children from harm's way, and fosters a healthy, loving relationship, then their efforts are worth every moment spent improving their skills.

Addiction Comes In Many Forms

It's been six years since my split with my ex-husband, and the effects of his addiction are still evident in my life. No matter what form addiction takes on it would be great if there were a drug rehab of sorts for each one. For instance, my ex had an addiction to collecting things, from Teeny Beanie Babies, to Star Wars character Pepsi cans, to over 100,000 baseball cards. Our basement looked like a huge collectibles store, only without any organization! This addiction was not only eating away at our living space, it was costing us our marriage! How? Let's think about that one for a moment. It effected our income, the ability to pay necessities like rent and utilities, obligations for child support, you get the picture. Addictions affect everyone around you, so be careful to watch your limits and know when it has become a problem. The shame in not in having an addiction, it's in ignoring it.

Are there good addictions in life? Maybe ... addicted to love!