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Will My Problem With Alcohol Trickle Down to My Daughters?

The effects of when a parent drinks too much

Michele Maize
3 min readApr 29, 2022
Photo by Olena Sergienko on Unsplash

I’ve worried about my abilities as a mother through every stage of my daughters' lives. Thinking back, I tried so hard to create the perfect home.

Was it perfect or just a facade?

Struggling with substance abuse and mental illness, I haven’t always been the best role model.

Even though I was at every school function, recital, dance competition, soccer game, you name it… I wasn’t always fully present. My memories of these times are clouded.

I yelled and said mean things when I didn’t mean it. I didn’t take the steps to see a psychiatrist for a mental health diagnosis as instructed by my therapist until three years ago and my daughters are 17 and 15 now.

I’m not sure why I put that off for so long because my mood and demeanor became so calm once I started taking my medication.

A year and a half ago, I quit drinking again. I’ve quit many times in the past 11 years and they have gone through that with me.

I always tell them I love them and do anything for them. But, is that enough?

They are both so sweet, kind, smart, and confident but will that subside in adulthood? Did I…

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Michele Maize
Michele Maize

Written by Michele Maize

Sober Traveler | Wannabe Vegan | Yoga Addict. Dog-loving extrovert turned introvert. Owner of "The Maze". Editor at Black Bear and Globetrotters.

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