name_lessly

my parents drink--this is nothing new / ive always known this; but its only been recently that i've sort of realized how much... im not sure how to feel about it. i feel really stupid at the moment and i'm not sure why.

alcohol has always been a part of my family's life. it just has. it's always been around, and always been a factor in almost everything. so here i am, thinking this is normal--- is it? i really don't know. it seems like my mom has been getting drunk more often lately. at least once a week --but she always seems to be ... tipsy? and i don't know if im overreacting. now don't get me wrong, neither parent is abusive. they just act stupid / are annoying? i don't know. i don't like being around them when they are... and i've been avoiding being at home a lot lately.

i would have never expected either of them to ever drive under the influence; both parents have always been really good about that. but i know of at least two instances in november that she has ... and both of those she was picking me from a friend's place--- but i didn't really realize it until halfway through the ride home until i asked her.

it seems she drinks so often, i don't know if she's acting any differently or if this is just how she is. i mean if nothing has changed, then is anything wrong? or have things been wrong for so long that i don't remember when things changed?
my dad has told her that she drinks too much... but then my dad drinks a lot too ---- so she dismisses it as hypocritical and i don't have enough experience to know the difference...

does everyone have alcohol every night? or a couple in the morning? or just throughout the day // whenever that person's not at work?

i just don't know anymore.

ndgrace

I am so sorry, I can remember that feeling when I was a teen. I did not know there were families functioning without daily alcohol. I wish I had gone to Al anon or some other support at the time. There is a link on this site to families with problems.
I went on to become that parent, and have been sober 6 months. Only your parents can decide if they are alcoholics or not, but you can get help for yourself.

name_lessly

. Thank you.

I mean it.

BigSis

Welcome, Namelessly.

I am an adult child of alcholics. What I have learned as an adult, is that alcoholism is progressive. Whatever they are doing today is probably better than how they may behave a year from now.

How much she is drinking really doesn't matter... because nothing (and I mean NOTHING!!) you can do will change that.

I remember clearly riding in the camper shell on the back of my dad's pickup and pouring mom's booze out the tailgate while he drove us on vacation... because I didn't want her drinking to interfere with our vacation. But it didn't matter, she just took more of the vacation money to buy more booze.

I tried Alateen (for only a short time), and at the time it gave me EXACTLY what I needed. They convinced me that I was not responsible for my mom and dad. That was a big thing for me back then.

I hope you can find some Alateen meetings in your area. If you cannot, try Alanon or ACOA meetings... both would be beneficial to you.

You can deal with this - it won't be fun, and it won't be easy, but you can do it. Keep posting and letting us know how you are doing. LOTS of folks here care about you.

((((hugs))))

GlassPrisoner

Yup, I've poured my Moms booze down the drain too. And, when I was in the cups of my drinking, my children found mine and poured it.

BigSis gives some good advice. I'd listen to it.