Our children will be a lot like us. Our children's sense of themselves initially comes from the way we treat and see them. If we give them a sense of self-worth, and they know they are loved and accepted, they are much less likely to turn to codependency and addictions. Mistakes mean that our children still need us to be their teachers. Life is an opportunity to guide them gently.
Addictions are a way to avoid or relieve stress.
If we teach our children that pain cannot be avoided, and to accept it as part of life, our children can learn to face life more realistically. Addictions help avoid pain and intimacy. By teaching our children to face the real world, we help them stay away from addictions and codependency. They are a means to self medicate away from the truth. Honesty with one's self, and communication with others, often means giving yourself permission to have and identify emotions.