Dear Jasmine,
My father is an alcoholic and he is 78 years old. He has 3 sons and 7 grandsons ages 8 to 14 years old. Should they know already that their grandfather is alcoholic? If so, how do you explain to a young verses an older child?
He recently had cancer 6 months ago and the doctors gave him 6 months to 1 year. Now he is cure 100%, should he drink with us instead of doing it alone? I mean he might have only 5 years of life left.
Jenny P.
Mexico
Dear Jenny,
Since the children are still young, unless the alcoholism is affecting them directly, then I would suggest that perhaps you wait until they are older to talk to them about if the question and/or concerns arise.
It sounds like your father has been given a second chance at life and that is great. However, it may be a good idea to drink with him and perhaps monitor how much he drinks. I think he is well in his old age and I don’t know at any point if you can really stop him from drinking more then he should.
That is sad to say but you are right, he only has a few years to live, voice your concern that you don’t want him to drink himself to an earlier grave then needed.
Always here,
Jasmine
