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.
Loss of connection with a parent
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 dad won’t stop!
But the thing that keeps me strong is help lines and I realise I am not alone.
But the thing that keeps me strong is help lines and I realise I am not alone.
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.
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.
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.
