Hi Mandi!

The last paragraph of your original post jumped out at me. (Not wanting your 10 & 12 yr. old boys seeing their father taken away, etc.) My mother had to do this with my father and at the time I was 10 yrs. old. I must admit that I have a VERY vivid and disturbing memory of that day (seeing Dad being taken away by the police/first aid squad on a stretcher). However, it was the BEST thing that could have possibly happened!!! Thankfully that was the last day he EVER had a drop of alcohol in his body.

My mother joined a Alanon group and I went to Alatine (sp?). It was a great experience and really helped me mentally. So like the others, I would highly recommend that, for you and your children.

I would just like to reiterate that I am not saying you should take such drastic measures. Only in my experience, that it worked and although it was a "spectacle", the postive BY FAR outweighed the negative. For the past 14 yrs. I have been incredibly lucky and blessed with the most caring and loving father (a COMPLETE 180 from the father I knew as an alcoholic). I often think what our (my family) lives would have been like if my mother didn't make the call that night. Just something to think about.

I wish you the very best and if you would ever like to talk, please feel free to email me! wink


Diana