My mother was Mary Judith Ann Poisson. She loved to declare things in dramatic ways using her full name, like “I, Mary Judith Ann Poisson and I am saying we are having pizza for dinner tonight!”
She was born of Irish and French-Quebec parents who didn’t drink.
She was the youngest of 7 kids; 4 girls and 3 boys.
She was a ‘helper’ at heart – passionate about children, fighting injustices of any kind, ‘Oldies’ music and her family. She loved musicals and animals. She felt things hard, as a true empath tends to do.
I’m not sure how long alcohol was a part of her life or when her addiction became a known issue. It took me a long time to see it. Before it took over, she was vivacious and beautiful and funny and confident. She loved us kids so much – we never, ever doubted this – even when things started to fall apart.
My mother taught me to be a better listener to myself. To take ‘mental health’ days when I went a little too hard and fast. To be more confident, which is an area I really struggled in as a child. She taught me to love God and to be suspicious of religion (but she was a Catholic through and through). I loved her voice. She was REALLY good at connecting with people and making them feel heard. She did SO, SO many things right as a parent, wife and friend.
I don’t want this blog to be all doom and gloom, but it’s my way of processing what happened to my mom and is currently happening with my dad and casting shadows on my sister. It’s my journey of messy life scenarios, mistakes, learning and letting go. This blog is for me. But….if it is helpful to read and offers any sense of connection or comfort – then I want it to be for you too.
Loving an Addict 