Especially once you have children, the need for a set head of the household becomes increasingly evident. To maintain a sound family structure, it is imperative that there is a set person in charge, in combination with the other parent.
The head of the household is needed to ensure the family is taken care of and stable financially, emotionally and spiritually. However, when things like addiction creep into your home this can disturb the sound family order – especially if the one affected is the head of the household.
Once the addiction has crept in and the family order has been disturbed, how do you restore it following addiction recovery?
Ask for help from your spouse.
During the time of addiction, your spouse might have had to step in and fill your shoes. Ask them for help – see what they have been doing and if anything has changed since your recovery, ask them for help transitioning back into your role as family leader. It takes two people working together to make a family successful, so don’t be afraid to ask your spouse for help re-enforcing that you are the head of the household.
Use this time to make changes.
If you want to change any of the current structurings of your household, now is the time to do it. As you readjust, lay out a list of set rules, a set budget and the set structure of the family. Make sure it is clear to everyone who is in charge and what is going on. This will ensure everyone is on the same page, working toward the same goal to avoid turmoil and be more efficient.
Seek Godly advice.
Reinvent yourself and invest in your spiritual life again. Get a mentor or someone you can talk to who will offer Godly advice and will help put you back on the right path. They will also be able to show you some tips along the way that make the process easier and clearer.
The head of the household is especially important in the lives of your children. Be a good role model and show them that it is possible to overcome addiction and sin. The ultimate treat, once you have overcome addiction, will be seeing your family restored back to a happy and healthy family – spiritually, physically, financially and emotionally. You will begin to reap the benefits of all your hard work both in your marriage and in the new relationship you have with your children.