We both ended up leaving home around 16, because we could not cope with the situation anymore
For a second I had a glimpse of a family where alcohol was not the priority.
For a second I had a glimpse of a family where alcohol was not the priority.
Experience of abuse
When I said Mum drank they emphatically said ‘No no no she doesn’t’.
You’d walk home wondering what mess she was in, and what you would have to do to keep the peace.
You’d walk home wondering what mess she was in, and what you would have to do to keep the peace.
“Nanny drinks her special juice out of a cup”
She kicked off at my friends and had to be physically restrained.
She kicked off at my friends and had to be physically restrained.
Scarred for life
My mum kicked my dad out; my dad weren’t having none of it so he smashed my mum’s window and then started calling my mum names.
My mum kicked my dad out; my dad weren’t having none of it so he smashed my mum’s window and then started calling my mum names.
He is drinking himself to death but we still don’t talk about the problem
Even now when he is in hospital at least once a month from blacking out. Even now we know that his liver is beyond repair.
Even now when he is in hospital at least once a month from blacking out. Even now we know that his liver is beyond repair.
“It’s not her that hates you, it’s the disease”
When the bell rung at 3pm, most of my friends couldn’t wait to get out of school. For me, I dreaded that sound.
When the bell rung at 3pm, most of my friends couldn’t wait to get out of school. For me, I dreaded that sound.
There was no safety net then, not for her or us
When I look back I seem to have spent a lot of my childhood cleaning, the only way I could make myself calm in the chaos.
When I look back I seem to have spent a lot of my childhood cleaning, the only way I could make myself calm in the chaos.
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?
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.
Living in a house full of boxes of delivered wine, shouting parents, empty bottles
I realised that I had kept all my feelings bottled inside me for so many years.
I realised that I had kept all my feelings bottled inside me for so many years.
