I would appreciate the insight and experiences of families who have been touched by substance dependency and have had to explain it to young, developing minds.

We've had this conversation in the past with our children, whose biological mother who is also my relative, has struggled with addiction since her late teens. However, as a series of new situations come our way, the children are pressuring for more information about their mother's condition.

I feel a little lost and I cannot get a hold of written information at the moment. My husband and I mostly answer from the heart. We do not judge or demonize any drug addicts and much less the mother of our children. However, it is hard to talk about the consequences of drugs and alcohol in excess to small children. Have you had to do something similar? How did it work? What resources, words, ideas did you use? And how do you think your children understood the message?