Agony Aunt: She’s Drink Driving With My Children (From Bucks Free Press)

Agony Aunt: She’s Drink Driving With My Children

11:20am Monday 13th February 2012 in Freetime

Dear Kaye,

My wife and I separated 6 months ago and I pick up the children (7 and 9 yrs old) every other Friday for the weekend.

My problem is that by time I arrive to pick up the children after work, I can usually smell alcohol on her. Her speech and actions also suggest she has been drinking.

This in itself isn’t a problem but the children tell me that they go to the pub straight from school.

They live in a rural location so she must have to drive to the school & the pub and I’m concerned that she is drinking & driving with my children in the car.

If I say anything she will explode and we’ll have yet another argument in front of the children Do I report her to someone, if so who? Will my children suffer?

Ben

Dear Ben,

This is something you must first discuss with your wife, perhaps during a morning when you are sure she hasn’t been drinking.

Try to keep a calm voice and explain you are concerned for the children.

Avoid sounding judgemental or give the impression you are questioning her as a mother, these are the typical subjects that would make her defensive.

Perhaps you could suggest you pick them up directly from school or ask her if there is a school bus service that the children could use.

Good luck, Kaye.

KAYE Townsend is a qualified, BACP registered, person-centred counsellor with a private practice in Flackwell Heath, Bucks. She is currently writing a self-help book, write articles for various publications & work as a volunteer counsellor for a local charity.