Marti Roveda

Equanimity Parent Coaching and KatKits.org are partnering this December to share a unified message: Presence is Prevention. The holidays carry a symbolic weight that is both beautiful and emotionally complex. For many families navigating a teen or young adult’s substance use, mental health struggle, or unpredictable recovery journey, this season can bring an added layer of stress, fear, and emotional intensity. The very time of year when we’re “supposed” to feel joy and connection can...

Somewhere between curfews, consequences, and crisis, many parents forget how to laugh. The heaviness of your child’s struggle, whether it’s substance use, anxiety, or emotional dysregulation, can weigh down even the strongest parent. Your days start to revolve around monitoring moods, tracking progress, or bracing for setbacks. You stop noticing small, beautiful things—the warmth of sunlight, the smell of coffee, your child’s fleeting smile. But neuroscience and lived experience agree: joy is...

Note: This article was originally written for the Parents Action Network Recovery Month/September Newsletter. I’ve adapted it here for the Equanimity Parent Coaching community, because the message of connection in recovery is just as vital for parents navigating their child’s challenges. Recovery Requires Connection September is National Recovery Month, a time to honor the millions of families and individuals walking the path of recovery. It’s also a reminder of a truth I carry into every...