A CHILD RAISED IN A FAMILY BATTLING ALCOHOLISM-A Poem

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A CHILD RAISED IN A FAMILY BATTLING ALCOHOLISM-A Poem

Raised in family addiction, small steps give us joy.

This poem is could be the anthem of many children who have been raised in a family battling alcoholism:

ABANDONED THINGS

Stability-I crave it

Control-I need it

Intimacy-I desperately want it

I look okay but I’m not

I may be successful in public

In private, I am struggling

You see me as an adult

Inside I am a little girl still afraid

I have lost my childhood

Please look at me even as I push you away

Find me

The fences are high to protect my heart

Help me tear them down

I am deathly afraid to take a risk

Even though everything could open up and I might come out of

the shadows

Love me like I want to love you

Why an Anthem?

For me, all of these were issues and fears I battled. The effects were profound and shaped the way I moved through life–until I understood how they did. How might a parent choosing a bottle of whiskey over their child affect you?

A love story that tells of letting go of fear, trusting enough to be vulnerable and transition to joy

I’ve written a series that shows how a woman coming of age and experiences first love grapples with this very thing.

  1. STABILITY – IT’S THE TOP OF THE LIST If an alcoholic’s child wants only one thing, it’s this.
  2. CONTROL – We know if we can control who we bring into our lives, everything will fall into place. Isn’t that tidy? And completely unrealistic, right?
  3. I HAVE LOST MY CHILDHOOD – Children of alcoholics grow up fast. They have to learn escapes, hiding places, and how to take care of themselves.

The twist? We can be a loyal friend, lover, parent, and sibling. We appreciate intimacy and trust like few others do.

The rub? It can take a lifetime to reach the place of opening our heart.

I’d love to hear your thoughts: Pam@PamelaTaeuffer.com or pamelataeuffer@gmail.com

www.PamelaTaeuffer.com    Facebook: BrokenBottlesSeries   Pinterest: BrokenBottles

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