Thanks to Al Anon I have been able to step back and really see what is best for my children and me. I left my AH a year ago to live with my dad who is an functioning alcoholic, nonetheless alcoholic. I have begun to take steps toward freeing myself from familiar uncomfortable known to unfamiliar free. It will be a while before we will be able to move. I will be living in the same city as my AH, and also in the same city where my Al Anon group is located. I do have fears about setting boundaries with him when he finds out where we are. I do have faith that the people who I have begun to know will support me in every way they can as I work my program of recovery.

I never really realized my whole entire life how alcohol has affected my father, my mother, my siblings, me. I guess I have been in denial. I cried a bit last night because this disease has stolen my parents and my husband. I am thankful for Al Anon. I can see the insanity of the disease and what it does to my loved ones.

I'm taking a huge step toward serenity and peace. Normally I would have cried to my AH about how terrible my father is and gone running back to him until I couldn't stand it anymore and come running back home to my father. I can see that I am changing. I don't want to have to wait, yet I do not want to leave my father in hatred and anger and bitterness and revenge. We were able to discuss him needing to deal with my mom's death in a more positive manner besides drinking. Yet I did not expect him to not drink today, which in turn I was not disappointed and I was able to focus on my needs and not the alcoholic.

Hope everyone has a great evening, please send prayers our way.

Kath