Pubdate: Fri, 25 Oct 2002
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2002, The Tribune Co.
Contact:  http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Authors: Maggie Beard
Webpage: http://tampatrib.com/News/MGA2L7Q8P7D.html
Webpage: http://tampatrib.com/News/MGAF56Q8P7D.html

JEB BUSH AND NOELLE (2 Of 3)

Not Enabling Noelle

Regarding the letters "Avoiding Negative Press" and "Jeb's Priorities" 
(Oct. 22):

I would like to invite the letter writers to attend a meeting of Al- Anon. 
What they would discover is that the worst thing the family of an addict 
can do is to continue to "stand by her" and "be with her through the good 
and the bad."

These are classic "enabling" actions that only serve to feed the addict's 
need to involve everyone around her in her addictions. Only by allowing the 
addict to suffer the consequences of her actions, while the rest of the 
family goes on to live a normal life, will the enabling cycle be broken. 
Jeb Bush showed true love and devotion to his daughter by detaching with 
love. It is the hardest thing, yet the best thing that anyone who loves an 
addict can do for her.

Maggie Beard

Seffner 
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MAP posted-by: Beth