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.
Isolated with the family secret
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.
It was all hidden, my mum was the classic secret drinker
I don’t think you ever recover from growing up with an alcoholic parent. What is interesting is how far you go to hide it.
I don’t think you ever recover from growing up with an alcoholic parent. What is interesting is how far you go to hide it.
I don’t remember anyone coming to look for us
Us 3 lived on the pub doorsteps with bottles of lemonade sent out every hour.
Us 3 lived on the pub doorsteps with bottles of lemonade sent out every hour.
Some people may judge my mother for her illness, and call her an unfit parent. Don’t.
I stood in silence next to her bed, experiencing a succession of emotions. Disappointment. Anger. Rejection.
I stood in silence next to her bed, experiencing a succession of emotions. Disappointment. Anger. Rejection.
After all these years the one thing I have learnt is that the past doesn’t define who we are
No one has to suffer alone.
No one has to suffer alone.
I just read the letter “Two Mothers” and couldn’t believe my eyes
She is like the poem “When she was good, she was very, very good. But when she was bad she was wicked”.
She is like the poem “When she was good, she was very, very good. But when she was bad she was wicked”.
One minute my dad could be the most amazing man in the world, yet the next he was an ugly, frightening man
I never blamed myself for his drinking, but I always wondered how different my life would be if he didn’t drink.
I never blamed myself for his drinking, but I always wondered how different my life would be if he didn’t drink.
The conspiracy of silence has made sure I never ask
Sometimes I feel relief that she is gone, relief that the merry go round I was on has finally stopped and will never start again. Guilt is the main emotion that has accompanied this relief
Sometimes I feel relief that she is gone, relief that the merry go round I was on has finally stopped and will never start again. Guilt is the main emotion that has accompanied this relief
Every time I watched her buy alcohol my heart sank. Each time I withdrew a bit more
Just to hear about the disease in a non-judgmental way and to be heard can end years of isolation and be profoundly healing.
Just to hear about the disease in a non-judgmental way and to be heard can end years of isolation and be profoundly healing.
