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May 23, 2012, 06:24 PM
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Member Since: Oct 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 6,543
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Bless your heart -- you did what you COULD. You couldn't save her from everything! You had enough trouble keeping your OWN head above water. Living in that kind of household is difficult enough without trying to shield the other kids too. It must have been horrible.
I too am a child of TWO alcoholics, and boy I can remember the pain.  I too had a younger sister and I tried to shield her too, but you can't do it 100%. They're bound to hear/see the chaos that goes on. There's nothing you can do.
Your sister would benefit from Al-A-teen -- I hope they have some meetings in your area. There, she would meet other kids her age, who are living in the same kind of circumstances and she wouldn't feel so alone. Plus she'd learn how to cope, how NOT to enable his behavior, and how to have a life of her own with NO guilt!
I'm glad you went into therapy. I did too -- unfortunately I too became an alcoholic. -- the only one of the 4 girls who did. But finally after 20 years of drinking, I'd had enough and now have 19 years clean/sober. Therapy certainly helped me understand the whole dynamics of the alcoholic family and how this disease seems to carry on for generations!
God bless and please let go of the guilt. You did what you could! That's ALL anyone can do!! You're a GREAT sister. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee
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