The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
My ex moved to the same town the kids and I live in last summer. He's relapsed a few times since then, drinking in his rented room. He managed to land a job about six weeks ago, and is actually supposed to have insurance coverage through them starting today, covering all of us. In the past six years, he's lost more jobs than I can count due to his addiction and choice to pick up again. I haven't actively been looking for signs he's drinking, but I won't leave the kids with him when he is, and I've just been waiting for the other shoe to drop. I decided yesterday to just not think about it; whatever happens, happens.
He left a message late this afternoon from the local police station, saying he got drunk last night. Whatever happened - he didn't say and I don't much care - he had two outstanding warrants from last year that he never took care of. So he's a guest of the local police through Monday when he'll get taken to one of the two courts. He asked me to check on his elderly landlord, bring him one of his prescriptions and, of course, said "I'm sorry," followed by "maybe I can think of a story to keep my job."
Since I didn't get the message until this evening, and I was getting the kids ready for bed, I didn't do anything he asked. If I have time tomorrow, I will, but I'm not going out of my way for this. Just the same old routine.... and I'll have to tell the kids tomorrow because he's been meeting us at church on Sundays, and he won't be there tomorrow. My 10-year-old is an altar server and she's going to be so upset he won't be there to see her.
I'm adding you and the kids into my prayers...lots of room. HP is sick of the disease also. Maybe the local AA central has someone who visits jails, prisons and institutions and will face up your alcoholic. (((((hugs)))))
I'm so glad you didn't jump up and take action. What a great program you have.
I can be so enmeshed in an alcoholic's life in a second. I have to learn to back off and take care of myself.
I know now that I don't actually get too involved in all the detail. I know the long long drunkathons that I listened to for years. I am also so glad that you let that go by you too. How impressive!
I am so glad you are here and taking care of yourself and your children. While your children may be upset they do have one functioning parent and that is critical.
You've taken them out of enmeshing with the disease and that is a great gift to their future and present.
