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.
Isolated with the family secret
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.
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”.
