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More advice needed please. I am having a hard time figuring out what to do about my grandchildren (ages 3 & 6) regardng my daughter's drinking. I gave background on the situation in my last thread. I found out she drank last night, so she made it 4 days. How do I follow the steps and still protect them? How have some of you handled it. My grandchildren mean everything to me. I love them more than life. She (and they) lived with us until a little over a year ago, which "coincidentally" is when she started drinking again. Right...I know she moved so she had more freedom to drink.
Your grandchildren mean so much to you and you want them safe so you need to pray about it and take the action you feel is best for them. You daughter is a grown adult and she know what she is doing.....this is for the children.
If there is danger to those grandchildren you know what to do.
Take care...
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Lord, put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth
Speak only when you feel that your words are better than your silence.
In my case......When attempting to talk (in a non-angered way) about what would happen if my daughter didn't either stop on her own or seek help, I STRESSED to my daughter that I knew she loved her children with all her heart and that she would never do anything INTENTIONALLY to harm them. However, in the long run her problem would effect them if she didn't get a handle on it. I also STRESSED that by not doing so, that if it came down to me protecting those children I would do whatever it took. I've told her husband this as well. (If it ever came to him leaving and taking the boys I would stand behind that decision!!! In a heartbeat!!!) I'm also prepared to call authorities, like cops if I know she is driving with those kids, ect., ect.) I lived through the horrors of one acoholic, AH, and did not stand up very well. I've learned what to do and what not to do after I got into AA (no I'm not, I just wanted 'the other side of the fence's viewpoint). She went to rehab. however, this is all very recent so the verdict is still out on how well she will do. If, however, it comes to her or her children...the kids will come first. They are very close in age to your grandchildren. They are still very defenseless. My daughter may hate me. I don't care. She is an adult. She has the power to choose the path in this life she wants to go down. I cannot choose it for her! However little kids aren't mature enough to make such decisions thus are in need of help whether it be verbal guidance or physical action like removing them from danger. Prayers for you.
When we found ourselves in this same situation two years ago, we contacted Children and Youth Services through the county that our AD was living in. They will investigate and take any steps necessary, including removing the children, to protect them from harm. I had no conflict with the steps as I did this because of the age of our grandson. Yes, keep on your side of the street, but not put your head in the sand regarding their safety.
Wishing you the best. You are not alone in this. Keep comming back.
