We were a complicated family
All I wanted was for her to love us, to love me, and I think she did but just could not show it.
All I wanted was for her to love us, to love me, and I think she did but just could not show it.
Loss of connection with a parent
My Story
All I wanted was some normality, to not be scared to come home from school.
All I wanted was some normality, to not be scared to come home from school.
I am glad to see that there is greater recognition
I attribute my survival against the most adverse circumstances to the tenacity developed as a child with an alcoholic parent.
I attribute my survival against the most adverse circumstances to the tenacity developed as a child with an alcoholic parent.
I would hide the fact she drank like it was a dark secret
It was like living with Jekyll and Hyde. When she was sober she was lovely and when she was drunk she was awful!
It was like living with Jekyll and Hyde. When she was sober she was lovely and when she was drunk she was awful!
Struggling to define what you have made for yourself
They worry about the potentially embarrassing repercussions.
They worry about the potentially embarrassing repercussions.
My dad’s alcoholism took a turn for the worse when I was 7 years old
Just because you’ve had an alcoholic parent, doesn’t mean you’re destined to go down that path.
Just because you’ve had an alcoholic parent, doesn’t mean you’re destined to go down that path.
And I’ll see you again when it’s time for me
As a young girl I remember the fear of coming in from school.
As a young girl I remember the fear of coming in from school.
One year ago this week, my hero died peacefully in his hospice bed
I went into “protection mode” – to protect myself from any further hurt or pain.
I went into “protection mode” – to protect myself from any further hurt or pain.
Rest easy my hero
I learnt not to talk, not to trust and not to feel.
I learnt not to talk, not to trust and not to feel.
I never knew when I came home from school whether she would be sober, drunk or dead.
I loved my mum so much, but I was frustrated as I couldn’t understand why, if she loved me, she wouldn’t just stop drinking.
I loved my mum so much, but I was frustrated as I couldn’t understand why, if she loved me, she wouldn’t just stop drinking.
