A little depressing, but a real issue. When does our responsibility end? When is our helping only furthering the problem? When is she old enough to face the consequences of her choices? I tried to balance out the theme by tossing in the story of Maurice, the Waffle Cat.
It is a good question. My little family, fortunately, are all doing well, have good work, and are in happy marriages. But I do see trouble all around me...
I am guessing that that is why tough love is often the very last resort of the enabler. I wonder what would happen if the tough love strategy came early on in the situation?
Great story, very powerful
Thank you, Lord Terry. A bit tragic, but the world inside my leafy head is not all cat stories and inter-galactic romances! ha ha ha
I'm glad to hear it!
"Alice - here is your dish of tough love." Good one, Sharron!
Well, there comes a point when one just has to stand back and let the"force" take over.
REscuers have a limit. It comes suddenly. Seconds before the kill point. We've all been there.
It is a tough situation when it involves a loved one. We want to help our troubled family members, and it is hard to know what to do.
Poignant…. But I bet he picks up. Saviors have to save.
Yes. It may be. And we all know that is not the solution. It is so hard to see someone you love make all the wrong choices.
Gosh, a great-but-tough tale, Sharron! Wonderful writing!
A little depressing, but a real issue. When does our responsibility end? When is our helping only furthering the problem? When is she old enough to face the consequences of her choices? I tried to balance out the theme by tossing in the story of Maurice, the Waffle Cat.
Yes, so many questions raised themselves for me, too. And I think Maurice the Waffle Cat was an excellent counterbalance to this post!
A difficult lesson to learn...it seems like the only viable option is tough love at that point. Powerful!
I agree with you, Justin. It is one of those things that is so hard to do, especially if Alice is family.
Sadly, I don't know if I believe Barry. He seems too good a soul.
No, me neither. He is probably her brother and has been covering for her his whole life... It is hard to know when enough is enough, isn't it?
I wonder if he can keep his word .
Maybe. Eventually. It takes a while to let go of these enabling relationships. A woman in your profession know far more about that than I do!
I'd be surprised. . .
The manipulator and the manipulated. I feel sorry for them both, just for different reasons.
Yes, me too. However, the predicaments they are in are by choice. She chooses to drink. He chooses to enable. In my humble opinion, that is. Sad.
You are so right. Life is about so many choices.
What percentage of families in this country have some variation of that story to tell? I know mine does.
It is a good question. My little family, fortunately, are all doing well, have good work, and are in happy marriages. But I do see trouble all around me...
Loving an addict is heartbreaking.
I have never had to deal with it, but it must be very hard to know how to help. Thanks Mark.
Just catching up on my reading. Powerful story Sharron. Tough love is sometimes harder on the giver than the receiver.
I am guessing that that is why tough love is often the very last resort of the enabler. I wonder what would happen if the tough love strategy came early on in the situation?