Coping with a father who drinks too much....

[whattodo2019]

I'm 47 married with two teenage children. This week we are staying with my lovely parents. We only see them about twice a year. Sadly my dad has always drunk too much and this visit he is drinking a lot. He only drinks in the evenings but at 73 it doesn't take much for him to come across v drunk. It's embarrassing, the kids are laughing at him behind his back, my mum
is mortified but it's obvious he drinks when we went here as well. He isn't taking part in family chats, doesn't listen so we are all repeating ourselves. I'm so upset by it. He loves old
like he has had a stroke when he drinks..
He is very defensive so it's impossible to talk to him about it......

Do you tell your teens to stop laughing?
No one chooses to be an alcoholic, laughing is pretty mean.
My own DF is an alcoholic & a similar age. It has caused atrial fibrillation and he now has serious memory problems but the memory clinic won’t help him because he drinks. It is very upsetting. Sadly your DF isn’t likely to change his ways now.
We have just had to accept that our DF is going to drink, it’s such a waste, all we can do is be there for him and support him however we can. I think all you can do is let your DM know that you are there for them both.

Poor you, OP that must be hard. And not nice for your mum. But it doesn’t sound like it will change so acceptance is the only way here.

I think your kids can laugh behind his back - that’s pretty fair if they are having to put up with a drunk on their holiday.

Have you explained to your kids that their grandfather has a drink problem?

Have you ever spoken to your father about it?