My XP almost died earlier this year when his drinking spiralled & mental health plummeted. Following discharge from hospital he has cycled between drinking and "giving up".
DCs are 6&4, I desperately want them to have a good relationship with him if/when ever possible & have no motivation to withhold contact other than for reasons relating to his drinking (not physically safe, emotionally inconsistent etc). He has only seen them once since June, as I have now stopped taking them to visit him at his home (risk of us finding him collapsed on floor was becoming to great). He has contacted me a few times to arrange to see them during periods of sobriety, but on only one occasion did he follow thru with actually meeting us. I stopped telling DCs of possible visits/meetings after the first let down.
The whole thing is so hard, I still care but I know I can't "fix him" and for my own sanity have had to take a huge step back from trying to help/support him. However, my 6yo has recently started to ask to see him & I'm a bit lost at what to say, so far they think he's still simply "poorly".
Can anyone reassure me I'm doing the right thing by not pursuing contact for them? Any help with how to explain what feels like an increasingly dire situation to such young children?
Many thanks x
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Alcohol support
Young DCs & alcoholic parent...
8 replies
Sameoldnewname · 31/08/2016 01:04
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