As children begin their healing journey back to wellness, parents often struggle with understandable doubts and fears. As much as you want your child to be well, you often wonder how much you can trust your struggling child. You are afraid even to dare to hope that this time it will be different. There are so many unknowns on this recovery road, and so much is about rebuilding trust once it is broken – often many times over.
But there is hope that trust between parent and child can be rebuilt. There are no fast fixes in the process, but with patience, communication and forgiveness, the opportunity for a renewed family bond is possible.
Be Patient
Trust does not happen overnight, because, as we know, the best predictor of present behavior is past behavior. As your child begins to demonstrate positive behaviors and follow a healthy way of life, you’ll begin to believe that your child is doing well.
Unfortunately, recovery is rarely a straight line, and you can expect that your child will experience setbacks and obstacles on the way. It’s ok to be skeptical and to wonder if your child is being upfront about the process. But don’t forget to celebrate those small victories that offer encouragement to your child, who is doing the hard work.
Keep Communication Open
The best way to know if your child is being transparent with you is by creating a safe space for your child to share where they are in their journey. Where there is open, honest dialogue there is a place for someone in recovery to share their feelings. Active, empathetic listening communicates too – that a child can express themselves without fear of judgment.
Be ready to share your own thoughts and feelings. When your child sees you are ready to be honest and open, they will feel more prepared to respond in kind. Repairing trust is much easier when there is open communication from all members of the family.
Extend and Accept Forgiveness
We are all human beings who make mistakes. Everyone has said or done things that have hurt others during times of crisis. Rebuilding trust means that parents and children acknowledge mistakes and ask forgiveness for them with sincere apologies.
Holding on to blame and resentment can hold back the process of rebuilding trust. It’s important that your child knows that forgiveness is available to them, even as you continue to require accountability.
Rebuilding Trust Starts with Us
April is a time of rebirth, which means there are always opportunities to begin again. That doesn’t mean it will be easy to rebuild trust with your child, but we have the tools to work through the obstacles on the road. Breathe, have patience, communicate and forgive.
If you need support on your journey in rebuilding trust, reach out to Other Parents Like Me. We offer a 14-day free trial of free support with parents who have been in your shoes. Reach out today and let’s help one another.