Straight Communication

“It is my belief that any family communication not leading to realness or straight, single levels of meaning cannot possibly lead to the trust and love that, of course, nourish members of the family.” – Virginia Satir

Straight communication is rarely experienced in chemically dependent family systems. In our recovery, we are learning to communicate in direct, non-gamy ways. We practice saying what we mean, and meaning what we say. We try to avoid all hidden meanings. If we’re upset, we say so. No hidden agendas.

Mistakes and Failures

Mistakes and Failures

Helping our children bounce back from their mistakes and failures without losing their momentum, helps our own recovery. We are careful not to scold them when they make mistakes during their ball games, for example. We never ridicule them, and we make certain we call attention to the things they do well, and not their mistakes. We remind them of the primacy of effort and enthusiasm. Skills will come in due time, if they truly to enjoy the game. — Thomas Wright