Michaela
Michaela
The first chart was for a twenty-five year old soccer mom named Michaela. The chart listed her as white, single, employed, and having no religious affiliation. This was her third time in our treatment system. Michaela had left our inpatient unit twice against medical advice. After getting a second DUI, she had been given the choice to complete treatment or go to jail.
Michaela had an eight year old son, and she chose outpatient treatment to avoid being separated from him. The evaluator had wanted her to go inpatient. The judge allowed her to try outpatient with the understanding that should she relapse, she would be required to go inpatient. Michaela wasn’t happy with this arrangement. She blamed the judge, the breweries, the police, child protective agencies, our rehab, and the Ford Motor Company for being in treatment.
Michaela felt cheated. She had gotten pregnant right before her senior year in high school. Her college plans evaporated, as did her relationship with her son’s father. According to the chart, she had summed up her reason for drinking as, ‘I’m a 25 year-old soccer mom working in her Dad’s real estate office. When my son goes to sleep, I’m entitled to a little partying to make up for all I missed!’ I thought about how much more she’d miss if she went to jail.
I will not miss today’s opportunities trying to make up for what I missed yesterday.
AArdvarks (c) 2013 by Ken Montrose
The first chart was for a twenty-five year old soccer mom named Michaela. The chart listed her as white, single, employed, and having no religious affiliation. This was her third time in our treatment system. Michaela had left our inpatient unit twice against medical advice. After getting a second DUI, she had been given the choice to complete treatment or go to jail.
Michaela had an eight year old son, and she chose outpatient treatment to avoid being separated from him. The evaluator had wanted her to go inpatient. The judge allowed her to try outpatient with the understanding that should she relapse, she would be required to go inpatient. Michaela wasn’t happy with this arrangement. She blamed the judge, the breweries, the police, child protective agencies, our rehab, and the Ford Motor Company for being in treatment.
Michaela felt cheated. She had gotten pregnant right before her senior year in high school. Her college plans evaporated, as did her relationship with her son’s father. According to the chart, she had summed up her reason for drinking as, ‘I’m a 25 year-old soccer mom working in her Dad’s real estate office. When my son goes to sleep, I’m entitled to a little partying to make up for all I missed!’ I thought about how much more she’d miss if she went to jail.
I will not miss today’s opportunities trying to make up for what I missed yesterday.
AArdvarks (c) 2013 by Ken Montrose
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