I have a story
My children lost their dad to drink three years ago at the age of 52.
My children lost their dad to drink three years ago at the age of 52.
Mental health problems
I was worried people might see me and my family as different
Which version of my Dad would I see? Dishevelled and smelly or bright eyed and present.
Which version of my Dad would I see? Dishevelled and smelly or bright eyed and present.
Our story is not one of sadness, it is one of pure resilience with love at its core
Your past does not define you.
Your past does not define you.
An alcoholic is so much more than their addiction
I guess it has made me very resilient. Nothing really gets to me these days.
I guess it has made me very resilient. Nothing really gets to me these days.
It wasn’t the city I was running away from
It was the painful memories and pure heartbreak held there.
It was the painful memories and pure heartbreak held there.
The Child of an Alcoholic: It’s never too late to break the cycle
We had little chance of developing as healthy children.
We had little chance of developing as healthy children.
Pain and power
The first memory I have of my mum drinking and it being a problem, I was around 7 or 8.
The first memory I have of my mum drinking and it being a problem, I was around 7 or 8.
My mum, when sober, was the most beautiful, loving, and caring person
From around the age of nine, I began to understand that my mum was struggling with alcoholism.
From around the age of nine, I began to understand that my mum was struggling with alcoholism.
Loving my mother, fearing her drinking
When she is sober she can be the most caring, kind, loving woman in the world.
When she is sober she can be the most caring, kind, loving woman in the world.
Why couldn’t I have a ‘normal’ mum?
Mandy’s mother was talented, loving and kind when sober. When drunk, she was a monster.
Mandy’s mother was talented, loving and kind when sober. When drunk, she was a monster.
