Chasing happiness : one boy's guide to helping ohter kids cope with divorce, parental addictions and death

Chase Block has lived more in his young life than most people in retirement. He is wise beyond his years--and has found a way to turn tragedy into something that will help thousands of kids (and their parents) for years to come.

At first, after reading a few pages and the back cover, I figured that Chase and his family were carrying a tremendous amount of guilt. However, what I learned is that through his life-experience (of a broken home and a broken heart) Chase has found a way to work through conflicting emotions, come to terms with his feelings and ultimately, help others.

Throughout the pages of "Chasing Happiness" Chase not only relays his experiences and feelings, but gives practical and realistic advice to other kids who may be going through similar circumstances.

As we relive his experiences, from the point of view of a young boy, we come to understand that he and his family not only did the right thing and made some difficult choices--but we learn the hard lesson that we cannot control another person's addiction.

Chase recounts:
"It was obvious Mom's physical and mental health were in danger from her pill and alcohol addictions, and a few weeks after New Year's, my brother and I knew we had to do something. We realized we were the most important thing in Mom's life, so we gave her a choice--she could continue drinking, or she could spend time with us. She couldn't have both. On one hand we didn't want to be that harsh, but we also knew that her sons were the only thing she had worth living for.

My dad warned me going into it, "This could get rough, and she might not make it."

"Yeah," I said, "but it's the right thing to do."

Chase echoes something we, at Changing Lives Foundation often tell people struggling with a loved-one's addiction. "If it's the right thing to do, you want to be sure to do it; and if it is the wrong thing, you want to be sure to avoid it."

He sorts through a myriad of conflicting emotions to help bring clarity to a complex situation. Chase doesn't pretend to have all the answers--no one ever will. But he does share honestly what he has learned--from the heart, and without pretense. Thanks Chase, for persevering through the toughest times imaginable--to complete this book. It is a gift that will be treasured by many.

~Judy Herzanek
Dir. Creative Development and Marketing/Changing Lives Foundation
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0578041197/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk">Why Don't They Just Quit? What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery.</a>
DVD:<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017X1WGK/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk">Why Don't They Just QUIT? DVD Roundtable Discussion: What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery.</a>
DVD:<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0578045427/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk">The 10 Toughest Questions Families and Friends Ask About Addiction and Recovery</a>
Kindle Edition:<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012FBWHW/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk">Why Don't They Just Quit?</a>