As I sat back at my daughters graduation I heard the principal assure the graduates with the powerful words, “know children, you are never alone. You are a part of a strong community. You will always have a backbone. There is always someone to ask.”

That was how I as a mother felt as well. Yet, speaking to so many other parentss today that are experiencing alienation they are lamenting the lack of finding a person that can be their backbone as they struggle with an estranged child.

Sadly, with alienation, we are all feeling very alone.

We are however not willing to give up on the strength of our backbone, our community and our leadership. Thanks to some courageous parents, support groups have sprung up in and out of town. It is our hope that as a unit we will be able to reach out to those in positions of respect and to gain their attention to our struggle.