Tippy H.

Peer Parent

I am from the northwest suburbs of Chicago. I am married to Greg and we have 2 children; Jack 19 and Rylie Jane 16. We have 2 Chesapeake Bay Retrievers who are always by our sides. I am a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll. I try to look for the bright side of all situations. My Mom was a strong influence in my life. She taught me resilience. I am an entrepreneur and creator at heart. My education is Criminal Justice and Psychology. But, nothing prepared me for parenting a teenager with addiction.

We tried it all. Therapy, IOP, Psychiatrist, In Patient, Wilderness and Therapeutic Boarding School. He was gone for 14 months. During that time we felt; fear, anxiety, guilt, uncertainty, and profound sadness. These feelings began to morph into hope, joy, pride, and strength. He is home now as an adult living “his life” while we learn to live ours again. His journey will forever be “our” journey. We are incredibly proud of him and can’t believe all we have been through. I have a circle of strength and support that was sometimes hard to see during the storm. I have a strong faith that I am not alone in this journey. I treasure each moment. Sometimes it takes the darkness to see the light.