This Christmas we're missing one of our teenagers, and it's heartbreaking. Josey, Royce's daughter, is currently in a substance abuse problem treatment center in Oregon where she will spend anywhere from 1 to 3 months in a locked up environment, meaning, she is not able to leave the grounds. If you have been subscribed to my blog for a long time, you will remember her daring teen erotica story that I posted here and that caused quite a stir. I was contemplating to take it down, but then decided to keep it. I support her, she is a talented budding little writer who is so openhearted that she fell prey to her own fervent desire to prove herself, to assert herself, to become an adult and to show everyone that she can do it on her own. Here is my boyfriend's story.
A GUEST POST BY ROYCE DANIEL
Josey is my youngest child. Stubborn, opinionated, sensitive – a tiny firecracker with a short fuse. An artistic, creative, and self-expressive bundle of energy. Loving and fiercely loyal to those she cares about most. She is my baby and, like all of my children, I love her dearly and would do anything to make her happy and keep her safe. I knew she wasn’t going to be my little girl forever and dreaded the day when things would begin to change. The changes were subtle. So much, in fact, that I was completely oblivious to them. In retrospect, a lot of horrible things took place right in front of me. My own fears, stubbornness, and the excuses I made up to explain away the warning signs kept me from seeing the big picture. I refused to acknowledge that my daughter, my beautiful baby, had a problem which began with skipping school and various other seemingly innocent juvenile growing pains. Her behavior escalated to shouting matches, rebellion against house rules, and, ultimately, physical assault inflicted on myself and members of our family. I’m filled with shame and guilt that it took seeing her handcuffed and placed into the back of a police car to finally realize that I needed to do something drastic to help her. This problem, this disease is called drug addiction. Josey spent two weeks in Juvenile Detention until finally, this past Monday, she was accepted into a treatment center near Portland, Oregon. I hope and pray that she finds herself again and comes home happy and healthy.
For the first time in my life I’m opening up publicly to talk about something that I would normally keep private. I’m terrified that people will think that I’m a bad parent. I should have seen this coming or done something sooner. I should have known better given the experience I have with her older siblings. I have my own issues that I’ve been struggling with and that I have allowed to get in the way of giving her the appropriate time and attention she deserved. I should have been more open with my friends and family. But all this is irrelevant because it can happen to any family. Don’t let your fear prevent you from helping a loved one. Drug addiction affects 1 in 4 high school students. Never in my life did I consider that one of my children would become a statistic. I beg you, if you suspect that your child or even a family member has fallen prey to this sadistic sickness, do something about it before it’s too late.
Thank you.
Royce
If you have a few minutes, please write to Josey (address it to Josey Daniel), a card, a quick note, anything, to support her. All her mail will be opened before it gets to her, but she will receive it, unless the counselors deem it inappropriate or dangerous to her health. She is in the Northwest Behavioral Healthcare Services center, and here is their address. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.
Happy Holidays to you, and much love.
Ksenia