Gift for Rehab Graduation??

[Forgive1]

My AS is graduating from his 28 day recovery soon. I feel like I want to give him a gift. Something he can carry or have near to remind him of his progress. Has anyone here given a loved one a gift upon their graduation from rehab? I want him to know that I support his recovery 100%. Any SESH?
Heidi

[DianeB]

I felt that my son received the gift of sobriety and an NA medal
each month. At his one year birthday I gave him framed copy of
the Serenity Prayer. I chose to not make any celebratory actions
until that time. Recovery is so very fragile.

Each 30 days I remembered and let him know how proud I was.

But no gifts. His gift is his life. That's just me. My son also does
not like hoopla! You will know what feels right ... Perhaps a
recovery related token or NA Basic text if he doesn't have one.

Hugs....

[Debness]

Heidi,

I asked a similar question on the forum a couple of weeks ago. I was wondering about recognizing my son's two-year sobriety birthday that comes a week after my daughter's college graduation. She got a very nice gift from her dad and me - and a very nice gift from her brother.

My husband and I have decided that we would like to give our son a gift, but it won't be on his special date or directly connected to it. He will be celebrating that day with his NA family, and his gift to himself, being clean, is the best gift of all. We'll be out of town on our first camping/fly fishing trip of the season!

We remember talking long ago about how nice it would be to give him something freely someday, without resenting it or feeling forced into it. I think that day is here.

Debbie

[Cheryl]

I have never given my son a gift for sobriety. Just being sober is gift.

Cheryl

[jjabc]

I bought my daughter a coin looking thing with the serenity prayer on it one time. I got it at a local religious book store. The last gift I bought my daughter was a recovery bible at Barnes and nobles.

[simplemom]

Hi Heidi,

It is wonderful news of your son completing 28 days of being clean!

A gift of love and of family is what my son continues to receive from us while he continues to embrace recovery. His 6 month chip of being clean is not only a milestone for him but for my family as well.

He needs nothing more as he has the support of the people in a very caring halfway community...our family loves him, forgives him and we take it One Day At a Time!

I pray that your son continues on his recovery and journey and you as well.

[river rock]

I made my son a ONE DAY AT A TIME plaque,
and hung it over his bed for when he came home.
That was June 2010, he just entered rehab for the
second time , on Monday.
Love
River rock

[kathyf]

My gift to my son was being present when he graduated from rehab the last time. It was his 6th rehab. I haven't ever given him a gift for the other 5 either. He has a collection of 30 days chips that he has left laying around in various places. They seems meaningless to him.

Love,
Kathy

[dtosh]

I certainly understand the yearning to give a gift after completion of rehab, but they already received a gift - sobriety. It is the best gift they can get.
It should be remembered, that recovery BEGINS the second they leave the rehab. They are protected and forced, somewhat, to get clean in rehab, but it is not recovery. When they leave and have to face sobriety on their own, recovery begins. It can be a very frightening and difficult time. In fact, they need to understand that as much as we do because many tend to feel like they have this thing called addiction beat and they let their guard down - and the beast is waiting to pounce.

[Forgive1]

Thank you so much for all of your responses. You are definitely a gift to me! I wouldn't be in the frame of mind I am in today if not for this forum.
((((Hugs)))) to you all

[gypsy56]

I certainly understand the yearning to give a gift after completion of rehab, but they already received a gift - sobriety.

I feel the same way.

[Lyra]

We made my ALO's favorite dessert together on his first month of sobriety (from crack, not from marijuana!) last summer. Other than that time, I have never given him anything for a sobriety milestone, but then hasn't had many of those unfortunately. I do agree that recovery really actually starts when they LEAVE rehab-its relatively easy to stay sober in rehab-its when you get out in the real world that you really have to work your program. If my ALO should choose recovery and make it happen for any length of time I will give him the gift of many hugs and telling him how happy I am for him and how impressed I am by his hard work to take care of himself. The biggest gift for him has always been his happiness-he is so much more happy in recovery, from my personal observation and what he has told me.

[linda.f]

Heidi,

How wonderful that your son has completed 28 days.

What I have learned in this program, is that there is no

graduation date. We learn here, Just for Today and One day at

a time. This philosophy and way of life is a gift in itself.

xo