Assessing Alcohol Issues: Context Matters

She only had one drink a day.

It happened to be when the kids were arriving home from school. There were three kids, all girls.

The eldest, nine, came in first. She was excited about the grade and comments on a project and wanted to show her mom.

Mom however reminder her daughter it was “tea time” and told the daughter she would look at her report after supper.

The shine was off the penny for the nine-year-old as she went upstairs disappointed, without so much as her mother’s notice.

Next came in the seven-year-old. She had been bullied at school that day. She bypassed her mother to sit in front of the TV, although more staring into space. She was unnoticed by her mother.

Lastly came in the five-year-old. Bounding in happily she tripped on the threshold of the door. Falling, she banged her knee leaving the smallest of little red marks upon it.

She wailed and ran to her mother who instantly redirected her to find the eldest sister.

All she wanted was a little attention and perhaps a Dora the Explorer bandaid to feel special.

She did find her eldest sister who quickly gave her that hug, yet felt resentful for having to do so.

Mother only had one drink a day. It happened to be when the kids were arriving home from school.

In assessing issues with alcohol consumption, we look beyond the number of beverages consumed. We also look at context and impact.

Mom wouldn’t believe she had a problem with alcohol.

During that time of consumption, mom was doing her best to suppress her memories of her mom whose drinking was far more serious.

It’s not always quantity. It’s also impact.

---

Are you following me on Facebook yet? If not, you are missing many more posts!

I am Gary Direnfeld and I am a social worker. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. I am available in person and by video conferencing.

Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW

gary@yoursocialworker.com
www.yoursocialworker.com for counseling and support

www.garydirenfeld.com – to build your successful practice

Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert in social work, marital and family therapy, child development, parent-child relations and custody and access matters. Gary is the host of the TV reality show, Newlywed, Nearly Dead, former parenting columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and author of Marriage Rescue: Overcoming the ten deadly sins in failing relationships. Gary maintains a private practice in Georgina Ontario, providing a range of services for people in distress. He speaks at conferences and workshops throughout North America. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.