Family Affairs

All parents set out to be the best parents that they can be. And many parents feel a burden of guilt when the children don’t end up quite the way that they dreamed. Sure, it’s a lot more fun to say, “Oh, my Sarah is graduating with honors and she already has a high-paying job waiting for her.” It’s nicer to say, “my son is the quarterback on the team and an A student besides – he even buys flowers for his mother every month.” No one really wants to say, “He’s a bum, a drug addict, and a real loser.”

Partly that’s because of parental love and concern for them to do their best. Partly it’s because of pride – parents bask in the glow of their children’s accomplishments and take a bit of the credit for the fact that they turned out so good. But who wants the credit when they don’t?

On July 18, 2011 an arrest was made here in Southern Indiana. Now, it probably would have only been a small paragraph on the 10th page of the newspaper, but it happened that the young man, 23-year-old Dominic R. Petrino, is the son of the Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, possession of marijuana, illegal possession of prescription drugs and possession of paraphernalia.

So, all eyes turn on the coach now, to see what he will say and do. Is it possible that some people will even judge how good or bad of a coach he is because his son did something very unwise and illegal?

Petrino said to the press: "Nick is our son, he is not a member of the Arkansas football team. As such, this is not a University of Arkansas issue. Instead, it is a family matter and a legal matter. My family will trust and respect the legal system and will not comment outside that process. Becky and I ask that you appreciate and respect the private nature of this issue and understand our lack of further comment."

Good thoughts, and one can only hope that the media will show some respect.

Here’s the takeaway thought on this one: no one is safe from the possibility of substance abuse. There is school, no religious organization, no city or rural area, no race nor gender nor age group that has not been seen to be involved in the tragedy of drug abuse. It is literally everywhere in our country. Therefore, there is no family that is “above” having problems arise either. Hopefully the coach will help his son find a treatment program that will make a difference in his life, in their lives.