Sandra Swenson – författare

Mothers of addicted and alcoholic children share a deep connection—one that is rarely understood by anyone who hasn’t experienced a similar path. Sharing our perspectives helps us all grow stronger, together. “We all need to take a closer look at the things we’ve avoided—the things lurking around in this place where love and addiction meet—so we’re as strong as we can be.” —Sandra Swenson, author of Tending Dandelions In the shadows of our child’s struggles with addiction, we find ourselves tending to a life for which we weren’t prepared. These meditations continue the tradition of Hazelden’s beloved meditation books by providing moments of recognition, confession, and healing for those who are realizing that recovery rarely follows a neat or comfortable path. Along the way, we plant beautiful roses only to be injured by their thorns, and we pull up unwanted dandelions that, at times, are our only source of wishes. By sharing the realities we never expected our families to face, mothers of addicted children support each other through experiences that can only be feared and imagined by others. From our shared struggles emerge opportunities for personal growth. Tending Dandelions is a vital source of wisdom, support, and strength that helps us begin our own journey of recovery.

Sandra Swenson's life was perfect until addiction, divorce, and caregiving for aging parents turned her world upside down. Now facing her 'golden years' alone and establishing a career at 60, she reflects back on how the heartaches, though painful, cultivated a courage and resiliency she didn't realise she had and which ultimately led her to a path of healing. Her inspiring story shows that no matter what comes your way, you can grow through pain and heartache and create a life that is 'just dandy.'

Through her child's addiction, a divorce, beginning a career at sixty, caring for aging parents, and facing her own old age alone, Sandra Swenson shares her heartache and her journey of courage, resiliency, and acceptance, inspiring us to believe that no matter what comes our way, it is possible to say we're ';just dandy' and (usually) mean it.In the pages of Just Dandy: Living with Heartache and Wishes, Sandra shares her pain and struggles, strength and determination, as crises continue to unravel her world in unexpected ways. A voice for parents of children suffering with the disease of addiction, Sandra puts their thoughts and feelings into words in this inspiring bookbringing hope, perspective, sanity and empowerment to moms everywhere.

Mothers of addicted and alcoholic children share a deep connection—one that is rarely understood by anyone who hasn’t experienced a similar path. Sharing our perspectives helps us all grow stronger, together. Now expanded with new meditations to offer even more support and help us all grow, stronger, together.  This expanded second edition of Tending Dandelions continues the tradition of Hazelden’s series of daily readings by providing moments of recognition, confession, and healing for those who realize that recovery rarely follows a neat or comfortable path. Along the way, we plant beautiful roses only to be injured by their thorns, and we pull up unwanted dandelions that, at times, are our only source of wishes. By sharing the realities we never expected our families to face, mothers of addicted children support each other through experiences that can only be feared and imagined by others. From our shared struggles emerge opportunities for personal growth. Now with over 100 additional meditations, the beloved Tending Dandelions can now be used as a daily tool—becoming an even more vital source of wisdom, support, and strength to help mothers begin and sustain their own journey of recovery.

Mothers of addicted and alcoholic children share a deep connectionone that is rarely understood by anyone who hasn't experienced a similar path. Sharing our perspectives helps us all grow stronger, together. Now expanded with new meditations to offer even more support and help us all grow, stronger, together.This expanded second edition of Tending Dandelions continues the tradition of Hazelden's series of daily readings by providing moments of recognition, confession, and healing for those who realize that recovery rarely follows a neat or comfortable path. Along the way, we plant beautiful roses only to be injured by their thorns, and we pull up unwanted dandelions that, at times, are our only source of wishes. By sharing the realities that we never expected our families to face, mothers of addicted children support each other through experiences that can only be feared and imagined by others. From our shared struggles emerge opportunities for personal growth. Now with over 100 additional meditations, the beloved Tending Dandelions can now be used as a daily toolbecoming an even more vital source of wisdom, support, and strength to help mothers begin and sustain their own journey of recovery

Sometimes addicts don''t recovery, but with love and faith their families can.

By the age of twenty, Joey had OD''d, attempted suicide, dropped out of college, survived a near-fatal car accident, done time behind bars, and been kicked out of rehab. Now manipulative and hateful, the once sweet and charming Joey is long gone. 

This is the poignant story of a defiant addict and the mother who won''t give up on him. She finally realizes that it hurts more to hand on than to let go, and that letting go is not the same as giving up.

Sandra Swenson beautifully orchestrates a mother''s lessons of love and loss, while surviving her son''s addiction. Despairing parents of addicts will find comfort in this stark, yet hopeful tale.