Hi, Elspeth. Thanks for sharing about your brother.
I grew up with an alcoholic father. There was a time when I was about 8-9 when my father went to jail for a DUI. My sister and I went to stay with my aunt (dads sister) so my mom could focus on getting him out of jail. Anyway, I remember my aunt telling us about how their father was also an alcoholic, and the most important thing we could do was to break the cycle. Her and her two sisters broke the cycle…they didn’t get involved in relationships with addicts or abusers, nor were they addicts or abusers. This conversation stuck with me from that young age. My sister and I broke the cycle, too. I guess what I’m saying is the fact that my aunt acknowledged what we were going though, and had that little conversation with us, it really made an impact on our lives. So, while she couldn’t really do anything to help or control the situation, it really did help us see the light at the end of the very long tunnel.
My father didn’t quit drinking until I was around 20, and it was more because his health (or lack of health) forced him to. I had a great relationship with him for the remaining 13 years, and he was a fantastic grandfather.
Thanks for reading. -amorette
Hi, Elspeth. Thanks for sharing about your brother.
I grew up with an alcoholic father. There was a time when I was about 8-9 when my father went to jail for a DUI. My sister and I went to stay with my aunt (dads sister) so my mom could focus on getting him out of jail. Anyway, I remember my aunt telling us about how their father was also an alcoholic, and the most important thing we could do was to break the cycle. Her and her two sisters broke the cycle…they didn’t get involved in relationships with addicts or abusers, nor were they addicts or abusers. This conversation stuck with me from that young age. My sister and I broke the cycle, too. I guess what I’m saying is the fact that my aunt acknowledged what we were going though, and had that little conversation with us, it really made an impact on our lives. So, while she couldn’t really do anything to help or control the situation, it really did help us see the light at the end of the very long tunnel.
My father didn’t quit drinking until I was around 20, and it was more because his health (or lack of health) forced him to. I had a great relationship with him for the remaining 13 years, and he was a fantastic grandfather.
Thanks for reading. -amorette