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I need my parents to get a divorce, my dad has ruined our lives..?
My name is Christina and I am 19 years old. This is going to be so long, so I apologize, but I don't know where to go or who to talk to about this. My parents have been married for 26 years. My dad is an alcoholic, has been my whole life and most of his own. He has cause tons of emotional problems in me, I have anxiety and depression. Pretty sure my mom is depressed too. He has been to jail several times, has many DUI's, and has assaulted a police officer. I have so many memories of the cops coming to my house because my mom didn't know what to do but call. My dad is an absolute monster when he drinks. He is never physically abusive, but is very verbally abusive and I do have a memory of him pushing my mom against the stove. He has also thrown stuff at her and has broken dishes, etc. He has had many jobs, but can never keep one because he gets into a binge and stops going to work. After his assault arrest he was on house arrest and had to do a breathalizer every day. He got better after that, but he always gets back to drinking. I know he has a disease and I used to feel so bad for him. But the past few years, even when he was doing well and going to school, all he has done has been taking advantage of my mom. She pays for EVERYTHING, since he has been unemployed and cannot pay his share of the bills. He barely even tries to find a job anymore, however it is very hard for him to because of his record. We constantly have people calling our house about late bills, all because of him. My mom is in alot of debt from paying for all he has done, and nowadays even when he is sober he doesnt do anything. He wakes up, sits on the computer, eats, sleeps, eats, sleeps etc. He doesn't contribute anything, and takes away what my mom works so hard for. I can honestly say he has caused so much stress and hurt in my childhood, and it continues, that I can't feel sorry for him because he has completely stopped trying. He has been in many programs designed to help alcoholics, and always quits. My mom is so unhappy and doesn't know what to do. I tried to talk to her about getting a divorce and she is so scared of losing the house and half of her retirement, and all of that stuff. My mom works so hard for what she makes and is helping pay for my sisters wedding, so she is worried about doing a divorce because of what she will lose.
I don't know who to talk to or where to go, I feel like there is no hope and I just need to hear that my mom can make it out of this being able to keep what she has worked hard for. In your opinion, do you think my mom would have to pay my dad alimony? And would he get half of what she has worked hard for? His whole life he has always taken taken taken, as if he is entitled. My mom cannot afford to pay him money due to a divorce. But we are all at the end of the rope, and I can't see my mom live like this. She deserves her house that SHE has payed for, her car, her retirement, and she doesn't owe him anything. She has had her job for 26 years, my dad could never hold one longer than 1 year. She is stable, he is the opposite of stable.
Please, somebody, help in any way you can. Thank you.
3 Answers
- 8 years agoFavorite Answer
First off, at 19, I hope YOU are able to help out as well? Are you working and contributing to the home, the bills? You're not a kid anymore.
Secondly, It's your Mom's decision to make, not yours. If she stays with him and you can't stand it then you are old enough to leave and pay for your own place.
thirdly, if he keeps up this life style he'll be dead soon enough. Your Mom should take out a hefty life insurance policy on him so when he dies she gets back a lot of the money he caused her to lose. And she should feed him fatty, salty, high calorie food to help him on his way. Hope he smokes too?
- ?Lv 78 years ago
She needs to see a lawyer to discuss how she needs to protect her assests. She can do a free initial consultation thing, but she needs to hear how she can be wiped out financially. His drinking and DUIs can cause her to lose the house, her retirement, etc. A friend had someone he knew talk to one and she filed for legal separation within 2 weeks when she realized how she could be held financially responsible for any damage he did when he was drunk. Less than a month later he was found on the side of the road of a major interstate. His car was found a mile away. It took him weeks to detox.
Get yourself to an Ala-anon meeting. It will help you deal with the damage he has done to you.
- ?Lv 68 years ago
alcoholism is not a disease it is an addiction. your father is a mess and your mother is amazing, but she is choosing to do what she wants to do.
go live your life, tell your father you are disappointed in him and can see that he has more love for alcohol then he has for you. Also when he cries and tells you he will change, don't believe him, tell him you hope one day he does realise that life without alcohol is the only way to live for him.
and tell your mother how you feel and how you are disappointed in her way of treating herself and she is supposed to be a role model for you.