Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Skeletons in the Family Closet


By Johanna Bailey
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, June 17, 2008; Page HE05

A Mother Wonders How Much to Tell Her Son About Her Troubled Past

"Daddy drinks wine. Why don't you?" asked my son Nico at dinner not long ago. Taken aback, I considered my response: "Because I'd just guzzle down the whole bottle plus the two more in the fridge before passing out in the mashed potatoes" would have been true but probably not the appropriate response for a 3-year-old.

Instead, I lied. "I just don't like the taste, sweetie. You know how you don't like, um, corn?"

Nico wrinkled his nose with distaste, and we moved on to other subjects, such as why cats have mouths but still can't talk and whether Hugo from school is in fact mean or whether he was just having a bad day.

Comparing wine to corn seemed to work in the short run, but I knew it was only a temporary solution. What do you tell your kid when you're an alcoholic and a heroin addict in recovery? Or if you have other skeletons in your closet?
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