Parenting through Addiction Recovery and Betrayal

Thanks for listening to Unfiltered: Real Talk about Sex and Love, with Ashley and Heather.

On today’s episode, we answer the following questions:

• I discovered my husband’s porn addiction 4 years into our marriage. By the grace of God we’re still married. Then 20 years into our marriage discovered that our son was addicted to same sex porn. At the time, we chose not to tell our younger daughter or extended family. Our daughter is now 20 and still doesn’t know.  I don’t want to be the secret keeper or betray my daughter, and yet feel like this is my son’s story to tell. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?

• My husband disclosed his porn addiction before we married. Despite all of counseling, coaching, and ongoing recovery work, he still relapses once a month. Recently he crossed one of my firm boundaries: watching porn while home alone with our three young children. When I tried to talk with him about it, he said he felt unsafe and questioned whether my boundaries were helping me. I’m at a loss on how to move forward in this relationship and how to protect my kids.

• As a parent, I’m determined to break the cycle and create a healthier home for my children than the one we’ve experienced. What are the most important things I can do today to help them grow up with safety, trust, and healthy views of sexuality?