Today we talk with writer Kerry Madden-Lunsford about how Al-Anon has helped her deal with the pain of having a child who’s treatment-resistant and now living on the streets of Los Angeles.

Find more stories and conversations at thesmallbow.com.

Kerry’s book Werewolf Hamlet

Kerry’s Substack

"Easy Crier" by Al Oldender

Listen to Swamp Dogg’s new album "Blackgrass" wherever you get music, or buy a hard copy at Ohboy.com.

In this Episode

0:38 Intro

4:51 Flannery's Childhood, Kerry's Parenting Philosophies

5:59 The Christmas Letter

8:04 Flannery Today

10:29 Being in Denial, then Noticing Signs

14:08 The most codependent family ever vs Al Anon

17:17 Diagnosis, Jail, Christmas

19:42 Self-Pity vs Al Anon

22:35 Werewolf Hamlet

25:28 Travel Town Museum, Torment

28:08 Realizing your child is unhoused

30:50 Looking For Flannery

32:50 Justin Szlasa

35:43 What Should You Do?

42:17 Ideal Outcomes

45:17 Kerry's current approach

50:22 Angels

55:04 Outro