Here is my story. We have been separated since 2000 and divorced in 2003. It's been very tough on the children. Ex is an alcoholic and he never tries not to talk around them about me or my family. Last fall our son decided he couldn't see his dad anymore on their weekend together. He felt is was too unhealthy for him with his father's smoking, drinking, and father uncommunicative most of the time. As a result our son, who is extremely bright, an overachiever began destroying himself. He has always been an athlete. He began running excessively, restricting his food intake, and became anorectic. He had to go inpatient this summer in an eating disorders program. He was on the verge of dropping over dead. Luckily, he finally realized he was about to die and asked for help after I put my foot down and told him he had to get help. I got him in the hospital and now 2 months later he has made progress. He's in college and trying to make things work with a lot of counseling and support from Mom's side. Dad still does not realize what happened even after he was told why, by his son. It's a horrible thing to watch a child do what ours did because of this horrible disease of addictons which now has claimed our son. My hope is that he is young and will be able to deal with this and overcome his addiction to running and feeling empty inside. To all parents I plead for you to stay involved in your children's lives. Even if you have them every other weekend you can stay close to them with the phone, going to their events, and spending quality time with your kids. Don't talk about the other in front of the children. Don't sleep with your significant other in your children's presence if you aren't living together, but dating. You can do that when the kids are with the other parent. Have respect for your children. They are now have to live different lives in 2 different homes. They didn't ask for this and we shouldn't make it any more difficult on them than it is.
|
older teens