yes- but I do think if our lives weren't affected by addiction, I may have replied the same way too. I have a relative who I thought wasn't such a good parent, her kids were always in trouble, they both are in jail now. Years ago I thought she wasn't a good parent, but after my son's life changed due to his addiction, I saw her in a different light. She did not chose their friends, she did not make their choices. She loved them the best she could. That is what we did with our son, we were never perfect parents, but we did our best, he made that decision to do drugs. Too many people don't get what we go through, they can look down on us, but we know we've done our best. Thanks for sharing this!

Yeah but her husband cheated on her many times so she's not a good wife huh?

I do agree with what has been because I am now attending a multi family group on Tuesday night. This group is made up of parents from all walks of life and the main connection we have is that we love our children who have chosen to do drugs. I want to thank those of you who told me to seek some form of outreach for myself. The healing has started as I am being educated about addiction. Peace of mind is a wonderful thing.

I can't stand Kathie Lee. Not long ago she made fun of an autistic boy on her show. Unfortunately it was televised. The boy's mother was at fault also, but Kathie Lee made a total idiot of herself. I'm so glad I did not come across the article of which you speak, but then again maybe I should. I'll check out her facebook. Thank you!!

I so agree with you EthelM, I don't care for her either. She's always come across as the "perfect" little family and the whole world knows Frank Gifford cheated on her and she's still there. I think she opens her mouth too much without thinking! But you know, those are usually the ones that end up eating their words. I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy what I have gone through as a parent of an addict, but things have a way of catching up with you sometimes.

Kathy Lee Gifford is an obnoxious grandiose self-centered narcissist. What she has to say would be the last thing I would care about but I do understand your hurt that even with your best efforts your child is an addict and you feel judged about it. I have given my entire life to my daughter - we were single parent and child since she was 9 mos old and I was 25. Now I am 65 and she is 41 and we live together under HER roof. I was very active in AA from the age of 29 and went to more meetings than anyone could count. I loved the program but after many years slowed down and became content alone. she had a rapid rise in the business world due to her natural smarts, likeability, work ethic and self-esteem demons pushing her forward. she became financially successful beyond what we ever imagined while I just stayed afloat and took care of my day to day living. we were buddies and worked as a team. I was so proud of her achievement despite our struggling conditions in earlier life and her father being an emotionally abusive parent to her. but as she ascended in the business world she because more of a drinker and out of touch. when the financial collapse of 2007/2008 happened she was let go of her high six figure job on wall street after just purchasing her dream house which needed renovating too. I have not seen her sober for one day since then although she was able to get and keep a couple of jobs in her field and does get up and go to work everyday. her alcoholism has advanced - we live together because she invited me to give up my go-nowhere just getting by job and broken down apartment and work as a team to renovate the mansion which I am very good at and very talented at. This is a full time job taking care of everything, errands, shopping, dry cleaners, care repair shop, gardening, tracking bills, cooking, walking HER dog, housework, renovation efforts, find repairmen, basically she earns the money and I do everything else. complete enabler - sort of like in marriage. however, after six years of this I am tired and spent and tired of hearing about "all she did for me" as we are now in financial struggle and the real estate market is dead. her alcoholism has turned to nightly raging like a broken record. drinks all weekend during the day and passes out by 7 pm. at first I used to defend myself and remind her how much I have done the best I could as a parent but her brain is pickled (alcohol speaking) and since she is discontented with her life she wants to blame me. I have been sober with the help of AA for about 37 years and told her as she was declining that it is a family affliction and that it will devour her if she does not seek help before she loses what she worked so hard for but she does not want to hear it and resents AA claiming I abandoned her to go to meetings when she was an only child and she had an unhappy childhood. anyway, of financial necessity we live together but I feel like a hostage and the abuse I absorb is very cruel. I have gone to alanon but have not been as ardent about it as I was in younger days when I attended AA regularly, which I actually liked. I intellectually know that she definitely will not improve unless I leave her to take care of herself. but I have an income of about $900 per month on social security and could not even afford a furnished room on that, let alone, food, auto insurance, health insurance supplement, electricity, heat, etc. Our situation is reversed compared to most - usually it is the parent who has the leverage about putting the child out of the house. what is happening now is that the more she drinks and berates me the the more depressed and isolated I am becoming. I have the energy of a 5 watt blub and feel hungover everyday from the night before's dramatics. It is as if I were drinking - that how much I have lost myself in the codependent relationship. I see a therapist regularly and we tried to establish some rapport but my daughter is just rageful and her emotions are betraying her while the alcohol has deteriorated the sweet girl she used to be. I can do nothing right ever. it is appropriate that we separate but I just have no where to go. I feel guilty for being impotent to leave and guilty for knowing that staying and taking care of everything is enabling her to continue this bullshit. we are both isolated, alone and alienated and it is very sad because we are each individually nice people. the alcohol is the devil. I watched my mother drink herself to death (had no choice) and it now feels like I may have to experience it again with my daughter. yes, I know I feel sorry for myself but I tried to model sobriety because I so much wanted to eradicate the family curse only to feel trapped by it again. The idea of living in a woman's shelter is beyond comprehension and that is just as hard a choice as having to put your kid out of the house. daughter knows she has a drinking problem but cannot imagine her life without alcohol in it. not drinking to her equates to death....and I understand that. sorry to drone on, just beat to a pulp by the constant criticism and excoriation. believe me when I tell you she was a sweet, kind and caring young lady.