Walking to my car after dinner tonight, my 12-year-old son passed City Weekly with Maycie Nielsen’s story on the cover [“Orphaned by Addicts,” July 4, City Weekly]. He paused, read the headline and picked it up. I was somewhat concerned, because although my husband and I read the Weekly ourselves, some of the content is mature for my 12-year-old. Still, we all piled in the car, my 5-, 7-, 10-, 12-year-old and myself, and while we drove home, my eldest son read your article to all of us. We sat in the driveway and finished it. Then my daughter asked, “Is this true?”
I want to thank you for running this honest article. We intended to have family home evening after we got home, but your article was all we needed to hear. We talked about how brave Maycie was to tell her story and the many people her parents hurt because of their decisions to satisfy their immediate selfish urges. We discussed a Mormon message called “Earthly Fathers,” which tells the story of a father who works hard to provide for his family even though he does not get to play with his children all that much. He just knows it’s his duty as a father, and by this, he knows he is showing his love.
I am not condemning Maycie’s parents or judging them. Sadly, like most families, I had two siblings whose lives fell apart because of their addictions and, as a result, caused our family a lot of hurt. I just wanted to thank you for sharing your story so I could honestly talk to my children about drug/alcohol use and how they will someday have to make decisions that may not seem all that fun or popular at the time. And, hopefully, they will grow up to be good mothers/fathers.
Keep telling the awful truth, Weekly, and thanks.
LUCY HAWES
Salt Lake City
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