I Wanted You to Know | Sober and Unashamed

Did you ever wonder how your alcoholism has impacted your children? Or your parents?

I have wondered. I have forgiven myself for most of the repercussions of my drinking, but the impact that this family disease had on my kids is what keeps me up at night. Some of us are lucky enough to have time to address the pain and trauma. Others are not so lucky.

We are sharing a letter written by our friend, Karen, to her deceased dad. We are sharing it because it is well-written and powerful. We are sharing it because it choked me up when I first heard Karen read the letter aloud. And we are sharing it as inspiration for all of our readers.

If you think your drinking didn’t impact your kids because they were too young or you hid it too well, you are wrong. Transgenerational trauma is real no matter how hard we deny it. Address it before it is too late.

If you were impacted by the drinking of a loved one, follow Karen’s lead, and express your feelings in the form of a letter. You can send it, but you don’t have to. The healing is in the writing.

A letter to her deceased dad, by Karen C.:

***

As I grow beyond the anger and resentment, and as I come to know myself better, I had two deeper thoughts that I…