Chris Reschar
G592, “It Will Never Happen To Me!” Report
July 23, 2013

Section 1
Since children in homes of the alcoholic parent(s) are not cared for in a direct manner which shows the best example to learn from, children will act on their own to preserve the security they desire. In this type of household, the alcoholic parent(s) is focused so much on the alcohol, they neglect the proper relationship needed to develop a ‘normal’ child or a normal relationship with their spouse. The non-alcoholic parent is consumed with the happenings of the alcoholic parent whether by supporting him/her, constantly covering up problems, or trying to keep some normalcy, that they neglect the child/children as well. With both parents preoccupied, the children are left to build the surviving mechanisms they need to cope with all the trouble occurring in the home. When children are left to build these parameters their perception of their role as children is blurred. These children will act in different ways to cope or manage without the proper parent involvement. Since the parents are not discussing issues of the alcohol abuse, the fighting, and other ups and downs, their processing of these events do not occur. Therefore students are left with questions and no answers as to how they should respond, reflect, anticipate, act, etc. prior, during, or after certain events. The children are assuming the rules reflected by the parents are the rules they should adhere to. These rules include don’t talk, don’t trust, and don’t feel. For example on pages 16 and 17 a daughter talks about driving home after her dad stopped at a tavern. Even though she didn’t know how to drive, made it home and told mom, went to bed and no one gave one thought about the situation shows a distinct separation of reality from the situation. Another way children may deal with these situations is by acting as the adult, assuming responsibility. Children may also seem emotionless when asked about a situation or presented with questions as to how they are doing. The children will literally act these rules out as if they are doing what’s “normal.”

Section 2
Following the actions of their childhood, as these children grow into adults, they carry on these same feelings and traits they’ve absorbed from their childhood. Even if they knew their childhood was poor and they want to change it, they don’t understand how to. Without the knowledge or ability in understanding how to change their future, they usually repeat it/carry it on. Therefore, children of an alcoholic household that become adults are more likely to marry an individual who is/becomes addicted to alcohol, carrying on the “generational curse.”
To understand how these children follow in their parents’ footsteps, we must understand the roles they played as a family member in an alcoholic’s household. There are 4 general types of roles children fall into, but these roles can blend