Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Alcohol support

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Wankerbastards and summer sunshine will make us want the bloody wine. But tryers to be dryers won't give up, and ice cold becks blue we will sup.

974 replies

Frouby · 16/07/2019 18:41

Thread 7 for the tryers.

Join us for tips and support for encouraging a more healthy relationship with alcohol. Whether you want to drink less, or not at all, stay in your units or just cut down this is the thread for friendship, support, tips and ideas.

Absolutely no judgements here, but there will possibly be swearing.

Other threads are dotted around but I have yet to master a clicky link.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
35
longestlurkerever · 18/07/2019 07:40

Oh that sounds tough cottonsock, [flowed] for you. I hope DD makes a full recovery and your parents' visit goes ok. Can empathize with the big drinking relatives and the conflict between hospitality and enabling. Dunno what the answer is really. I tend to offer a modest amount and then DM goes upstairs for "an early night" and I turn a blind eye. Rubbish.

Well I am at A and E with dd2. She woke me up early and I didn't notice she was trailing her finger in the hinge of the door. Pretty sure it's ok but she cried a lot and I felt too guilty not to bring her. We are the only ones here but have been waiting a while. Luckily there's a separate waiting area for kids away from the druggies and drunks and she's watching trolls on the telly quite happily. Hope they don't take too much longer as it's already cost me £12 to park my ancient air quality criminal now we are over the border in posh Islington.

NC4Now · 18/07/2019 08:51

Oh no Longest. Hope she’s ok Flowers
And Cotton that sounds tough too.

I’m knackered. DS1 was crashing round and yattering on the phone to his mates till 3am and refused to stop because of ‘the way I was with him earlier’.
The way I was was frustrated that I’d been at work all day and come home at 5.30 to the kitchen a complete state and him making bacon butties for him and his girlfriend, rudely demanding I go to the chemist to buy Rennies because I forgot when he put them on the shopping list, then saying no when I asked him to make me a brew while I ran outside to fetch the washing in from the rain.

He did make me a brew but didn’t offer one to his girlfriend as there was only one mug downstairs- even though I’ve been asking him to bring them down from his room for a week.
I didn’t shout or lose my rag or anything, just told him if he didn’t bring them down I’d have to go in and get them, and went to drink my tea in the other room.

10 mins later I get a text apologising for being rude and asking for a lift for his gf. When I’d dropped her off I told him I’d worked 60 hours last week to put a roof over his head, I have a meal plan which he’s wrecking by staying in bed till 3pm, I’ve spent an extra 5 hours this week trying to sort out his apprenticeship while he lies in bed, and that frankly it’s a piss take to come home to that.

So he told me to stop the car, got out and stomped off down the street, leaving the car door wide open and sticking his middle finger up at me as he walked away.
When he got in he shouted he doesn’t give a flying fuck what I think - which I believe.
DS2 was lovely and cooked tea and watched tv with me before bed, but DS1 came down and said: ‘Right. This is how it’s going to be. I’m going to do all the things you didn’t tell me need doing and you are going to stop lecturing me.’
Some apology. I told him it isn’t for him to tell me when to stop feeling upset.

So I told him to go back upstairs, said I was upset and it wasn’t for him to tell me when to stop being upset, I wanted to be left alone, and went to the shop.
His response- ‘I’m fucking sick of this. I’m fucking sick of you. Why don’t you fuck off to the pub and don’t come back.’ I just walked off.

So at 3am, when I texted him asking him to keep the noise down and he said no, I told him I would not tolerate being verbally abused.

He says I’m wrong to call it verbal abuse and that swearing at someone isn’t abuse, but I’m pretty sure it is? He gets so angry, it’s scary. It caused so many problems with XH as he would react back the same and I’d end up having to stand between them or pull them apart. That’s why I had to leave in the end.

I’m utterly exhausted from this. I don’t think I deserve to be spoken to like that and I don’t think it’s wrong of me to be upset at the state of the house and the attitude when I say it isn’t on.

longestlurkerever · 18/07/2019 09:09

Oh NC4, hugs. I think it's fine to say you're upset and you're going to take a while to get over it. I have no idea how you discipline a late teen though. Perhaps you can't and just have to wait for him to feel bad enough to apologise.

Swearing is a tricky one. On the one hand they're just words and it's all about the context, like any words. On the other hand if words are being used as a weapon that's the definition of verbal abuse. The power dynamics come into it too. Your son is becoming a man. Would his dad have a word with him? You said he'd become an ally?

longestlurkerever · 18/07/2019 09:10

Ps still at A and E. Feel guilty for bringing her now as pretty sure she's fine but they're sending her for an X ray.

longestlurkerever · 18/07/2019 09:57

She's fine. Natch. X

NC4Now · 18/07/2019 09:58

Better to have her checked Longest. I hope it’s all fine and you’re on your way home soon.

Yes, I agree about swearing. It’s all in the context. If he’d have said ‘I feel like shit’, for example, I might have told him to watch his language but I wouldn’t say it was verbal abuse.
But to pick up my makeup bag, throw it at the windscreen, and stick a middle finger up at me while telling me to go fuck myself is a different story.
Horrible.

NC4Now · 18/07/2019 09:59

Ah just seen your update. Glad to hear it. At least she’s got a story to tell x

longestlurkerever · 18/07/2019 10:05

Hugs NC4. You'll feel shit for a while. I have no advice really- I'm no stranger to a flaming row. The key thing is what he does next I think. Xxx

NC4Now · 18/07/2019 10:08

I’m teetering as to whether to get him up and send him to his grandma’s to cut her grass. She’s not well and is desperate for help. She’ll bloody pay him too even though I’ve told her he should do it out of kindness since he’s at a loose end.
But I’m probably in for more if I wake him up.

MadameForest · 18/07/2019 10:43

Cotton you have a lot on your plate, well done on 3 days AF and I hope your mum is OK in your new house. It must be very difficult to cope with the dementia as well as your daughter's medical issues.

Longest glad DD is OK!

NC4 swearing is verbal abuse. DS1 is totally out of order. Can his father speak to him? It is completely disrespectful of him to talk like that to his mum and I hope he apologises this morning. Don't accept that sort of behaviour, please, you are worth so much more.

Dion I hope you are feeling better today!

Frouby I hope your DD's school trip goes well. She is a lot further north than here but I think a heatwave is forecast next week everywhere in France and Belgium, did you pack sunscreen?
I think I'm a terrible mum, I'm always quite relieved to see the back of mine, but then I have them all the time and it was nice last week not having to cook much or tidy up all the time. DD is taking her driving test next week, if she passes then she really will be independent. We live in the countryside with no public transport so it's complicated for the DC getting out and about.
DS is going Kayaking with the activity centre this afternoon for the first time. I'm sure he'll love it.
I wasn't AF or moderate last night Blush

NC4Now · 18/07/2019 10:56

Thanks Madame. Sorry this has turned into a stream of consciousness from me today. You are such a good bunch.

I will ask his dad to speak to him. He was pretty shocked at how he spoke to me recently, and I broke down and told him how it was with XH. He was upset, and just said ‘you should have told me.’

Anyway my friend is coming over in a bit with her baby. I bought my house off her last year and it will be the first time she’s been since she moved out. I’m really looking forward to seeing her. I’d better tidy up though!!

LarryDuff · 18/07/2019 13:48

That sounds rough NC4, god I cringe thinking of how awful I was as a teenager but at the age it's just impossible to see things from the parent's point of view until you start to mature and have your own responsibilities. That doesn't help much I know, I'm sure all my chickens are going to come home to roost when my now 5 year old reaches that stage. It's hard enough to stay sober now!

NC4Now · 18/07/2019 17:05

Well I had a lovely afternoon with my friend and her baby. Skipped lunch and had ice cream instead, and a long walk, just chatting and catching up in the fresh air.
Also a pint of lager in the sun, but just one is fine.
I’m going to lift some heavy kick ass weights soon, to get all DS angst of my system.
I’ve had an apology from him - half arsed but I think sincere. He rang me once he’d gone out. I doubt I’ll see him till much later now, and I still feel a bit rattled, but hopefully over the worst.

thisnamechanger · 18/07/2019 18:55

Day 4 cravings here. Off to Yoga. New studio is surrounded by trendy bars and cafes - the temptation to have an evening alone listening to podcasts with a pizza and red wine is intense. Hope you're all feeling better. Flowers

SenselessUbiquity · 18/07/2019 19:52

Sorry about all the DS stuff, NC4. Sounds pretty scary.

Big waves to everyone else

Big shout outs to the big readers! I used to be a huge reader and I wish I had more time now. Of course I would have time if I were drunk less often - it's one of the incentives I am always mentally offering myself.

Hi Dion. Hope you feel better soon.

Longest - "I LOVE YOU"?!?!?

thisname - yes sometimes solo wine just calls to you. Be strong.

I'm fucking furious today for some reason. Booze was really calling to me when I got here with my kids but I made up some fizzy cordial instead and I think I've got through the moment. I've bust through the units allowance I gave myself for this week and really don't want to drink again; and give myself a chance of staying within them next week.

I have tons of work to do but I'm so tired. I'm going to bed early instead.

Thanks for being there, all of you.

SenselessUbiquity · 18/07/2019 19:59

Oh yeah I said I was going to let you know how I was doing with DrinkCoach. I think it's actually helping. It's not like I wasn't aware that I was drinking too much but it is different to have a record of it and see how much time I have lost / am losing to hangovers. I have a pattern where I drink too much on tuesdays because I am child free and wfh on Wednesdays and it's really messing with my life force. I think seeing it even more clearly is helping me.

longestlurkerever · 18/07/2019 20:43

Senseless- I know! It started off super innocent as she wanted to make a thank you for inviting me to your party card (wasn't aware that was s thing but whatevs) but when she covered "I love you" with "something secret" I was a bit Shock, but she's written something similar to her nursery teacher so think all is well!

In fact it feels a bit end of an era today as it was her last day at nursery with all her class. She's going for a few more weeks so it's sort of crept up on me as we of them are term time only. Ditto forest school- she had a couple more sessions but tomorrow is the last one with her buddies we lift share with, and they are generation 2 because we did the same with our dc1 who are now 8. End of an era! Sad

Good to hear about the app. Name changer you're doing well!

About to cave here I think. Has been a long day. As well as pre-work A and E trip DH had a consultant appointment and got his formal ME diagnosis. Makes things real somehow.

longestlurkerever · 18/07/2019 20:45

Ps sorry NC4, I meant to say I am glad you got some kind of apology at least. Did I mention it had been a long day?

Dionysa · 18/07/2019 20:55

Still catching up, but wanted to post hugs to NC4. I have been there, too. It's hideous. He doesn't mean it, but I know it still hurts, so much. You are his mum, and you have protected him from other people being horrible - and he still does this to you. I know it's a cliche to say he's only doing it because he knows you are his rock and you won't abandon him - but, still, you can call him out on it. Teenagers are so bloody difficult.

Longest, I don't envy you A&E. I'm glad DD is ok, but you have to get these things looked at.

Meant to be dry tonight, but I am not. FML a thousand times over. Will now catch up with everyone else.

thisnamechanger · 18/07/2019 21:07

I bought blueberry juice instead. It was £4.20. North London is ridiculous and so am I Grin

Dionysa · 18/07/2019 21:18

So glad you are back, Madame, and with a lovely photo. Huge congrats to your DD, too!

Thisname, PMSL at pants saga. As Frouby says, we need to adopt "narrow in the gusset". 🤣

Obsessive reader here. So is DS. DD was, but isn't. We have never had a telly, so there was no alternative when they were little. DD has made up for it since then, though, thanks to her phone.

Thank you for thinking of me, Senseless.

Hugs to you, Longest. Ends of eras are always a bit emotional. And when it coincides with DH's diagnosis, that must be even harder.

Hello, Larry!

MadameForest · 18/07/2019 21:39

NC4 little kids little problems big kids big problems. Sadly it's true. I'm so pleased you had a nice afternoon and hope DS has apologised sufficiently.

Longest wow, an official diagnosis at last, what will that mean for you and DH going forward? A relief in some way I imagine, but what about the future? It's a complicated illness and of course it puts a lot of responsibility on you. Are you OK?

Senseless I might try the drink app. WhenI was single I had no problem sticking to 10 units a week but living with someone means I'm easily tempted to have a drink. Sometimes not more than one small glass but really, I should be doing better. I didn't want to drink in front of my kids every night because they are old enough to be influenced into thinking it was normal ( as I was by my parents drinking habits)

Cotton 4 nights AF is brilliant

Dion thanks, just need DD to pass her driving test next week then I only have one child left to get rid of bring up. Only joking, I love them really.

Hi to everyone else. Ds enjoyed his Kayaking despite turning over 6 times. I went for a swim, 1600m crawl. I find it so boring compared to running and cycling. But it results in nice arms! Again not AF, half a bottle of red. Seemed rude not too as DH made a nice profit on a digger (don't ask 🙄)

longestlurkerever · 18/07/2019 22:34

Thanks Madame. This is actually formal diagnosis mark 2 as the first one was pancreatic insufficiency, but that was something of a relief because it gave us a reason and also hope of successful treatment, which it has had to a certain extent as he's no longer losing weight to scary degree and suffering malnutrition, but I think it came too late in the day and the stress his body was under has triggered this ME. That's less fun as not very treatable, but I guess it gives us legitimacy re work absence etc so is helpful to have. Mixed feeling really I guess.

By the way, I was nodding along to your saying you're pleased to see the back of them when they go to their Dad's. I think that's perfectly reasonable when you've had them 1:1 for ages- it's full on! Shows a healthy balance imo. Better than a needy parent trying to stop their kids from reaching independence.

I love swimming so much more than running. I like the headspace and the lack of lung agony. My absolute favourite is swimming in the sea but the lido is good too - I am so happy it's open year round now.

Name changer: solidarity wave to a fellow North Londoner, though my Northern blood may prevent me ever paying £4.50 for a ribena, sorry. Grin. Still a bit aggrieved at my 7am parking costing £12 for 90 mins.

Wine was nice. Music was good. Trying to resist opening a second bottle. May head to bed.

Flossie44 · 18/07/2019 23:57

Flying past..

Madame - “nice profit on a digger” crikey that sounds like my dh!!!! I swear if I let him, he’d have digger pyjamas and wear a bob the builder hat wherever he could!!
So glad to have you back xx

NC4- so sorry you’re having such a shit time. Like Dion, I’ve been there too. And in fact am still there. We’ve brought ds up in a very middle class existence, and yet he still thinks it’s ok to tell me to fuck Off regularly. It really hurts. And he can’t see why!! Sending you an empathetic hug lovely. X

Dion - I’ve never been a reader as can’t seem to train my brain to concentrate. However this year I promised myself I’d start and in fact feel like I’m a changed woman. I love it!!

Longest - how’s dh with his diagnosis? Will it mean he will get support? ME is such a difficult diagnosis and so little understood. My sister had it when she was younger. I’ve debilitating for the sufferer. And hugely frustrating for the family. Hope you ok x

Half a bottle of white down tonight. Not Too bad but kinda wished I’d had less.
Had unbelievably shitty 24hrs tho so being kind to myself. Really feel yoga is the one thing I’ve found that means I can love my inner self. I need to let this grow in order to stop self harming now!!

Frouby · 19/07/2019 06:54

Morning all

You were a chatty bunch yesterday!

Nc massive hugs. I don't have any experience of older teenagers. But my nephew was an absolute horror at 17/18. He's outgrown it now and is a lovely lad doing really well living 2 mins from his mam. I would definitely sit him down when all his calm and explain that he can't eff and jeff at you, and that if he wants to make food, drinks etc he does some basic chores. Leave him a list every morning so there is no question about what needs doing.

Spoke to dd last night. Safely in Belgium and loving it, though she isnt impressed with the food, which I didn't think she would be cos shes a fussy fucker.

Wasn't dry last night. 2 cans of lager. Again. Been off track this week. Going to get today out of the way then back to dieting and af days.

OP posts: