The Christmas Choice
So it was a group effort of my parents to ruin my Christmas. Last summer, my mom decided to finally divorce my dad. My dad had been a big drinker for a while, and eight or nine years ago my mom had decided not to divorce him because my oldest sister (who was 14 at the time) would have had to be the sober adult on the days that us three kids were with our dad.
Now that I (the youngest) am almost out of high school, she felt it was safe for us kids to handle the divorce. It’s complicated and I’ve already rambled enough already, so I’ll just say that my mom has had enough trying to make things work, while my dad is in denial, thinking we can still work something out without going to a full divorce.
He also blames himself for everything when, at least partly, it really just didn’t work out. His drinking is just part of the picture. Well, a week or two ago, my dad sent me a text I wished I could unsee. It was a very emotionally distressing message that was basically an ultimatum, telling me to choose between my two parents.
Nonetheless, this gave me an opportunity to stop going to his house every week and stay with my mom indefinitely. Now it’s Christmas, though, and we’re spending Christmas morning at his house so that he’s not alone like he was on Thanksgiving. My dad means well, but he goes crying over every little thing, and being around him makes everyone in the family depressed.
Let’s see how this morning goes. I’m on my way now. My dad is now 7 months sober and counting. It means a lot to him, it just seems like no one cares. ~ Briznar