View Single Post
Old 02-18-2008, 08:58 PM
  # 5 (permalink)  
hope2bhappy
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Dixie
Posts: 612
I think boundaries are very important, but enforcing them can also be very frustrating. The boundaries you wish to set are perfectly reasonable to us, but I'm not sure an active alcoholic will be able to honor them. Since he's not able to control his drinking, he can't possibly promise that he will stay sober around the kids, or that he won't pass out. Well... I guess he can promise, but I don't think he will be able to follow through. Perhaps a "blanket" boundary would serve you better than a specific boundary -- i.e., "I will not tolerate drinking or intoxication in this house or around our children." If he can't live up to this, what are you prepared to do? You have to have a consequence.

Whatever you decide, I would be inclined to write mine down and go over them with him at a time when he has not been drinking.
hope2bhappy is offline