“I’ve always wanted to film the real ‘after party’ when the mom is passed out with her little kid in the background, or she gets into her car and drives drunk. It happens all the time.” When I made the decision to quit drinking, one morning in June 2017 when my relentless hangover was surpassed… Continue reading Mommy Doesn't Need Wine: The Stigma of Being a Sober Mother
Tag: family
Deeper Cleaning: How I Came to Accept My Mother’s Hoarding Disorder
About 50% of all hoarders have blocked access to their fridge, bathtub, toilet and sinks. 78% have houses littered with what could be deemed garbage. My chances of finding a spot to sleep were next to nil. For the second time in my life I was saying goodbye to my mother and moving to California,… Continue reading Deeper Cleaning: How I Came to Accept My Mother’s Hoarding Disorder
The Walk
I can effectively express two emotions, anger and rage, and if someone fucked with my little girl, they would be getting a double load of both. I hadn’t been back in the free world a month, but I was rolling. This time I was flat, no parole, no PO to fuck with, no fines, nothing.… Continue reading The Walk
How Sponsoring Fellow Alcoholics Is Teaching Me How To Parent My Son
How do I, an alcoholic with a dysfunctional childhood who didn’t even begin maturing until his early 30s, go about the daunting duty of raising a son to manhood? Recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous has helped me build an incredible life. A restored marriage, a promising career, and a comfortable suburban home highlight the tangibles; the… Continue reading How Sponsoring Fellow Alcoholics Is Teaching Me How To Parent My Son
An End to the Parent-Child Role Reversal: Taking Care of Me
When my dad drank, he folded in on himself and quietly disappeared. When this happened, I’d wait patiently for his return while dreaming up myriad ways to make his life better. There was a little more than a week to go before my wedding day. Left on my to-do list was an array of tasks:… Continue reading An End to the Parent-Child Role Reversal: Taking Care of Me
I'm Sorry Daddy, I Won't Be at Your Funeral
I used to think my relationship with my father was unique, different: complicated on its best day and toxic, disruptive, and unbearable on its worst. I know now it’s not unique. I have always known—well maybe not always, but for a very long time—that I would most likely not be attending my father’s funeral. I… Continue reading I'm Sorry Daddy, I Won't Be at Your Funeral