Al-Anon Family Groups
Sometimes parents overcompensate with expensive gifts to make up for the day-to-day chaos caused by their drinking.
Virginia Beach, VA (PRWEB) December 22, 2015
Young people who have an alcoholic parent don’t know what to expect over the holidays. “Sometimes parents overcompensate with expensive gifts to make up for the day-to-day chaos caused by their drinking,” Al-Anon Information Analyst Pamela Walters said. “They might think they can buy forgiveness with presents, because they feel guilty about the way they’ve treated their children all year.”
Marietta is an anonymous Al-Anon member. Her alcoholic husband tried to make up for missing their children’s recitals and ballgames by maxing out his credit card. “My husband thought Santa Claus could improve our family relationships overnight,” Marietta said. She recalled returning personal gifts to the store after the holidays, but struggling to pay for the gifts her husband bought for their children.
“It wasn’t until I attended Al-Anon meetings that I met other people who had similar experiences during the holidays,” Marietta said. “I don’t know where I would be today, if I didn’t experience the understanding and compassion that I found in Al-Anon. I didn’t realize that when one member of the family is alcoholic, the whole family suffers. So, the whole family needs to find recovery and relief. I’m very grateful that this year, my family is recovering in Al-Anon and Alateen,” Marietta said.
Al-Anon Family Groups are for families and friends who have been affected by a loved one’s drinking. Nearly 16,000 local groups meet throughout the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico every week. Al-Anon Family Groups meet in more than 130 countries, and Al-Anon literature is available in more than 40 languages. Al-Anon Family Groups have been offering strength and support to families and friends of problem drinkers since 1951. Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. acts as the clearinghouse worldwide for inquiries from those who need help or want information about Al-Anon Family Groups and Alateen, its program for teenage members.
For more information about Al-Anon Family Groups, visit al-anon.org and read a copy of Al-Anon’s annual public outreach magazine “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2016.” Find a local meeting by calling toll-free: 1-888-4AL-ANON.