I am old enough to understand this isn’t my fault. It doesn’t stop me getting angry
I can’t do anything for my mother – she doesn’t want me, she wants brandy.
I can’t do anything for my mother – she doesn’t want me, she wants brandy.
Adults
I feel mum and myself tried to cope in our own way. Mine through starvation and mum through drinking
Why do I go back to her out of fear of what she is doing to herself?
Why do I go back to her out of fear of what she is doing to herself?
Never feel guilty for your parent’s drinking. It isn’t your fault
I never knew how I would feel the day I lost her as our relationship was turbulent.
I never knew how I would feel the day I lost her as our relationship was turbulent.
I have cared for my dad for half of my adult life and I’m not going to do it any more
He has never forgiven me for ‘abandoning’ him at this point.
He has never forgiven me for ‘abandoning’ him at this point.
My name is Joe. I am the child of two alcoholics
What I want my parents, and everyone else to know, is that these things that hurt the people we love.
What I want my parents, and everyone else to know, is that these things that hurt the people we love.
I became obsessed about being ‘normal’ and I craved things that seemed normal
I kind of treated her illness as my illness, as though we were both alcoholics.
I kind of treated her illness as my illness, as though we were both alcoholics.
I vowed I would never inflict this kind of torture on a child myself
I am still haunted by those childhood memories of my father’s drinking.
I am still haunted by those childhood memories of my father’s drinking.
Every pothole of my ACOA journey was worth it to see my incredible girls grow
We never went without food, clothes, necessities, but we did go without guidance.
We never went without food, clothes, necessities, but we did go without guidance.
My teenage years were blighted by alcohol having a higher priority than me
My teenage years were blighted by alcohol having a higher priority than me.
My teenage years were blighted by alcohol having a higher priority than me.
As a child of drunken parents, I know what it means to live in poverty
I know what it means to live in poverty with parents who spend first on alcohol and cigarettes.
I know what it means to live in poverty with parents who spend first on alcohol and cigarettes.
