If a boy had an abusive alcoholic dad what are the chances he will turn out like his dad if he is not an alcoholic and realizes his father was wrong?

Answer 1

My son's father is an alcoholic though he is still in denial. We are no longer together and I am hoping that the distance will atleast keep my two year old from seeing first-hand what an alcoholic behaves like. He is at the stage of copying what other people say and do. At the playground one day, another little boy threw rocks at him and my baby thought this was how he should play too. I quickly stepped in to say to both of them that throwing rocks is not a way to play and that they could both get hurt. Imagine if my son copied his dad yelling at me, or intimidating me, or threatening to hurt people. There are other behaviours that result from alcohol abuse like manipulations, illogical arguments, silent treatment, that I don't want my baby to pick up or think are normal ways of relating to others. I am hoping that the distance from such behaviours, and associatiing instead with healthy, loving family and friends will help keep my son from becoming like his dad. Beyond that, if he still turns out alcoholic, I can say that it wasn't because of something that I did or didn't do to encourage him to drink or be like his dad. If it is genetic, then there's nothing more I can do except atleast make sure his environment is not condusive to the abuse of alcohol or any other substance. Same for the boy in the question above, all you can do is concentrate on keeing yourself healthy no matter what happened with your dad. It's important to let go of what he did so you can conitnue being the best that you can be despite his abuse.