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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

AS desperately need impartial advice please

8 replies

Aquagirl123 · 21/04/2024 16:41

Husband and I happily married 53 years, two adult children 44 and 42. One daughter 42 also happily married with family, we see them a fair bit and all good. AS 44 was a lovely child, no problem at all,academic and sporty. Went to university and started drinking, all downhill from then. After uni he got a job in finance, this had a drinking culture so it continued. He got married, his wife accepted the lifestyle until they had children, then she expected him, rightly, to grow up and curtail the drinking. He was coming home drunk pretty often or not coming home at all. This didn't happen. She divorced him after 10 years of marriage and he lives on his own. That was 6 years ago. Since then, he's deteriorated still working and drinking but mental health isn't good. He won't accept there's a problem, takes anti depressants but that's all. Access to his son is once a week on Saturdays which started off well, but now he lets him down regularly and doesn't turn up saying he's unwell at the last minute.We agreed with his ex wife that we would supervise on Saturdays as she was worried about her son and his dad being so mentally unwell. We also do it to give her a break from full time parenting as her parents are not really involved much. We get on extremely well with our ex dil, helping with childcare in the week, gardening, paying for clothes and hobbies for GS who is now 9. GS is delightful we love him to bits. There's been a pattern of our son seeing his child for say three weeks and then missing a couple. But just lately he's missing more and more. We're left with a very disappointed boy for the day. We still have a lovely time with him taking him bowling, swimming, cinema,to parks etc. We've tried having discussions with our AS but they go nowhere. It usually ends in an argument, he can be very sharp tongued, we feel very protective of our GS and try to get our AS to see what he's missing, but it falls on deaf ears.He just says we don't understand his mental health problems, but won't quit drinking and we think it would improve if he did.He does pay maintenance regularly though. Where do we go from here, any advice greatly appreciated. We feel like saying to our AS that we don't want a relationship with him, but then feel guilty. We are so disappointed and angry with him. We do love him but he tries our patience so much we don't know what to do. I think our ex dil also doesn't know what to do. She wants their son to have a relationship with his father, his child loves him and wants to see him, but being constantly let down is so hard for everyone.

OP posts:
Aquagirl123 · 21/04/2024 16:44

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OP posts:
cansu · 21/04/2024 16:45

I think an age appropriate conversation with the grandchild from his mum might be a good idea. He needs to know that his dad has some problems that mean he isn't always reliable or able to see him always.

kinkyredboots · 21/04/2024 16:56

Your AS sounds like a functioning long term alcoholic which is impacting his MH and general quality of life. Only he can choose to deal with this - which will be hard and there is not much you can do until he decides to help himself. You may need to take a step back from AS and see if he can start to turn himself around or continue as he is. Does your AD have any more insight into what your AS is going through?

Your grandchild needs to understand his father has problems and it is not him that is the issue.

Watchkeys · 21/04/2024 17:23

Assume that you can't change anything, and operate as if all the parameters will stay the same. It sounds like you're stuck in the 'hoping things will improve' trap; he drinks, though, and he doesn't want to see the issue, or stop. It's his life. Let him live it his way, and you need to work out what you can cope with in terms of how much leeway you're willing to give.

Can you reduce contact rather than just stop?

His mum needs to explain to the boy that dad chooses to be unreliable, but that he will always be loved and cared for.

SunflowerTed · 21/04/2024 17:29

My advice is accept that you have tried to help your son. Alcoholism is an Illness that can only be improved on if he’s willing to accept help. I’d concentrate on your grandson and dil and keep things civil with your son. He’s an adult and there’s nothing you can say that will change things so accept that he is who he is

Aquagirl123 · 21/04/2024 18:05

Thank you all for your insight and understanding it brought a tear to my eye. It's so hard and breaks my heart to see other fathers at the school with their children. My husband and I hardly drink so he hasn't had bad role models. Our DD broke contact with our DS about 2 years ago because she doesn't approve of his life choices and he won't listen to her or us. The cousins are very good friends though.

OP posts:
Aquagirl123 · 21/04/2024 18:06

Aquagirl 123

OP posts:
waterrat · 21/04/2024 18:28

he is an alcoholic - it's a severe and horrific illness - in the end the only person who can choose to change is him.

Have you looked at Al-anon for families?

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