Dear Annie: I am also a parent of a child who lost his battle with addiction in 2022. There are so many of us with difficult stories to share.

My son found alcohol and drugs at 15 and battled those demons until his death at the age of 30. I have come to know that there are some types of brains that truly do not know how to turn off that switch. We did all we could do as a family, and as a mother, I was taken into a series of events that I was neither prepared for nor able to combat effectively.

I have come to view those years with my son as a time where I examined the fragility of life and the undeniable love I had for another person. I miss my son every day, but I wouldn’t take one bit of my time away from him, even though many of those times were bleak. I see the world much differently now and am a better person for that.

I hope that those who have experienced this type of loss will come to a peaceful place with the grief that is often overwhelming and focus on helping others with the benefits of the knowledge that they have learned. Thank you for printing these letters. It reminds us all that we are not alone. — A Mom of Grief

Dear Mom of Grief: I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your story and for your understanding that you are not alone.

Dear Annie: Reading those letters from parents of alcoholics brought tears to my eyes. I am a recovering addict/alcoholic. It took three rehabs and two relapses in my recovery. I am grateful to God I’m still alive.

I wrote this letter to send hugs, love and understanding to all those who are still suffering. AA and NA gave me a free, wonderful recovering life. Don’t quit until the miracle happens. — Miracles Happen

Dear Miracles: Thank you for your letter. I hope it encourages others to carry on.

Dear Annie: I always read your column and have forever, but today is the first time I’ve been inspired to write.

I read the letter from the woman who was saying her parents were celebrating their 50th but felt they should have ended the marriage years ago.

Let me add my blunt thoughts.

My parents were the same. Several times growing up, I asked my mum why we couldn’t leave my dad and basically got, “You need to have a dad.”

I’m 60 years old. What that “need” got me was years of therapy for the way I was treated, and I’ll probably be in therapy for the rest of my life.

For any parents thinking they’re doing the right thing, let me leave you with this closing thought. My mum passed away 32 years ago. I still miss her but have not and will not ever forgive her for sticking me in that mess because it was supposed to be better for me. Do you want your kids to have that thought about you long after you’ve passed on? — I’m Still Standing

Dear Still Standing: Thank you for your letter. I am sorry about your childhood. That must have been very difficult on you. Had your parents separated, it still would have been difficult for you.

You can choose what thoughts to have about your mom now that she has passed. Forgive her, knowing that she did the best she could. If she had known better, she would have done better