Well, as long as only a few of his children were "messes" guess that makes it just peachy! Because people who are messes NEVER pass that on to their children, who then pass it on to their children! So really, the fact that the rest of his family might be "okay", well that's all that matters. And we certainly can't blame him for becoming an alcoholic in the first place or not getting help (for the sake of his family) BEFORE he was forced to to get treatment. What's most important is that "he gradually turned into quite a nice guy". Twisted DUmmie compassion. It's the alcoholic, not those he abused and victimized, the people whose lives he ruined, that deserves sympathy, applause and redemption. Got it.
Cindie
I think that I've been fairly forthcoming about my alcoholic struggles, on the board. As I see it, my alcoholism (almost 3 1/2 years sober) was/is a product of my
choices. The people, the places, the things that I
choose to be with/around. As I watch The Heiress (who has been quite vocal in her desire for a little sister) grow, she scares me at times--she's
just like me. I fear that my alcoholism will manifest itself in
her being an alcoholic. The things that I have control over are me, myself, and I. So, I try to provide the best possible example for her to follow. It's all I can do. Hopefully, she'll decide to pattern herself after the recovering alcoholic of the present, and not the active alcoholic of my past.