Expert: Beverley Glazer - 4/24/2009

Question
She takes my daughter on the weekends and i just found out she has been taking pills and drinking a 5th or R&R a day my daughter told me she does it when she drives with her too, my daughter is only 7.  How do i confront her about this and for her to get help. how do i tell her she can't see my daughter till she does get help.

Answer
Hi Merri,

There is no easy way to confront your daughter's grandma, but for the sake of your daughter you have to do it.

Tell her that you know that she has a drinking problem and here's a self test you can ask her to do to prove it to her and possibly break some of her denial.

http://www.untwist-your-thinking.com/alcohol-abuse.html

Tell her that by drinking and driving she's putting her grand-daughter at risk and that you will not allow the child to stay alone with her unless she gets help. Check AA meetings in your area and tell her go.

It's also not enough to go to a meeting. She has to get a sponsor and be involved in the 12 step program of AA for this to work. If there are other members in the family, you should talk to them and all of you should confront her together.

This won't be easy, but it has to be done. Stand firm.

Good luck!!
Thank you for writing All Experts,
I hope this information is helpful

Beverley Glazer
http://www.untwist-your-thinking.com