Mom and Dad fought when they were young, too. But what families live without quarrels? They quarrelled about the wrong dinner, they can’t decide what movie to go to, they can’t divide the TV set… Earlier they both argued, but as they got older, mom became more patient and often give in to dad, but in vain.
– You’d better not bother him, or he’ll split up,” she tells me when I try to reprimand my father. – He’s a sick old man.
He’s sixty-one now, he smokes a lot, which causes him to have lung problems all the time. He’s not going to quit. He decided to add his liver to his lungs by getting addicted to alcohol. He drinks for his own pleasure, brings his friends home, and then scolds his mother with all her might. I witnessed one of the quarrels myself, when Dad could hardly stand on his feet, waving his fists and saying that Mom had ruined his life.
– She had bewitched him! Chained him to herself! And you’re gonna tell me not to do something? I’ve done my time, now I’m going to rest,” he mumbled with a slurred tongue.
My mother defended him even then, saying he would become a man when he slept it off. But I don’t think that’s normal behavior. He takes it out on his wife, and then her heart hurts.
– Mama, Daddy needs treatment. Why don’t we find him a good specialist? Do you want me to ask some friends to help you find one?
– Don’t you dare! I don’t want everyone I know to know about this. Just leave it. How long does he have left here? Let him do what he wants.
I don’t support my mother in this decision, but I can’t treat my father without her either. Maybe you can advise me how to convince my mother that my father’s alcoholism can’t be left alone. What if someday he goes beyond hurtful words and does something? Hurt my mom more? And she won’t listen to me…
