Well, it is that time of the year again… summer break. Sun is shining, grass is growing, pools are open, BBQ’s fired up, and kids are home from school. I remember when I hated this time of year. My kids were a burden to me and I did not want them around because it made less time for me to do what I needed to do. I wanted my time and I wanted to be alone and be miserable. I did not care about the sun, my grass did not get cut, I did not want to do swimming, and I did not eat. All I was concerned about was using. That was until I found recovery and sobriety. Now, I cannot wait for my kids to be out of school to spend time with them. I play games in the pool with them, make their favorite foods on the grill, lotion them up so they do not get sun burned, and play games with them in the yard. I love seeing them laugh and enjoying life with them. I treasure every moment with them and cannot imagine giving that up for anything. I never want to go back to that darkness where the sun never shines.