Tatum O’Neal’s son pens emotional note about her struggles for Mother’s Day

Tatum O’Neal’s son Kevin McEnroe is opening up about his experience with his mother’s mental health and substance abuse issues ahead of Mother’s Day.

The writer penned a note about his relationship with the competitive Academy Award winner and offered parallel’s to his own sobriety journey.

In a letter titled Dear Tatum and published at The Small Bow, the 39-year-old shared his early memories with his mom’s addiction struggles and sending him to buy cigarettes, him discarding her drugs and her offering him a “line.”

"When I was little, you were my mom, until your boyfriend gave you heroin. You were my mom when you were clean, between rehabs, but then sometimes you were Tatum, too. I used to think Tatum took my mom away,” Kevin wrote.

“Now I think Mom and Tatum just wanted something different. I think Mom and Tatum didn't always get along," he added.

Kevin noted that he still sometimes calls his mom Tatum but mostly refers to her ‘Mama,’ despite her past struggles.

Notably, the actress’s son has also been candid about his struggles with sobriety, explaining that he was asked to distance himself from his mother while she was still using and he was being treated. 

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