This question has been plaguing my mind lately. My husband is a recovering addict and is not able to assume full responsibility for his roll in our family. He has made giant strides in his recovery but I realize that he still has a long ways to go.
Al-Anon has taught me to put aside my expectations as it pertains to his maturity, growth and development as well as his drug addiction. Last year after we separated our home was in foreclosure, we were 3 years behind on property taxes and 2 months behind on every utility bill in the house.
My daughter and I worked our butts off to turn my financial situation around. We did in 8 months what my husband and I were unable to do in 3 years. Today, by the Grace of God, I am only 1 month behind on my mortgage, my property taxes are current and all of my utility bills are current or paid ahead.
I know this may seem insignificant to some, but I have even managed to save $200.00 dollars in the bank and my piggy bank in my bedroom is full of coins. My goal is to save $1000 for an emergency fund.
Next month as most of you know my husband will be moving in with his parents.
I have noticed simple things that will have to be addressed sometime in the future. When my husband visits or spends the weekend with me (we sleep in the same bed but no sex yet) , he seems to be oblivious as to what is needed to maintain our home. For example, he still puts his shoes everywhere and leaves his soda can or cup on the living table. I usually cut the bushes around our home a job he normally did. When I am out cutting them, he sits in the living room in his easy chair sucking up the air condition. The bushes need to be trimmed and the garbage cans either placed out into the garage on picked up from the curve. If I do not ask him to do these things, he does not volunteer.
I have read the chapter in the Big Book of AA entitled The Family After-wards. I realize that I have assumed my husband role (lawn work, pond maintenance, painting and home repairs). I still am a habitual house clearer, I do not believe that will ever change and I also groom and see to the needs of all of our pets as well as wash and iron all of the cloths. I do not need any added responsibility.
I guess my initial question is how does a family reincorporate their recovering addict back into their lives and family without destroying the peace and serenity of the household? And what role will my husband play as husband and provider?
-- Edited by DeltaRedd1984 on Tuesday 29th of June 2010 12:40:27 PM
Hey Delta,,very good questions,Congratulations on your work and you should be proud of your accomplishments.One thing we have to be aware of from both sides of the coin(I SHARE THIS AS AN ADDICT AND FATHER OF AN ADDICT)is to not let resentments start creeping into our lives and I may be reading into this,but I can feel some underlying things going on with you and rightly so.For me and my wife ,having boundaries and consequences to adhere to these boundaries and agreements always helped keep everything up front,so first of all we are "communicating" these issues with each other..I know for me "i'll probably always be somewhat of a "drop your clothes where they are guy,clean up eventually,and do things that my wife may want done in a different capacity(time frame etc).Put clothes where they belong,clean up sooner than later etc.By communication levels with each other even if Im not quite on it,I am aware and continue to 'get better" in areas that work for both of us..In my sons case it was more rigid,there will be no "works " in the house, no using,you'll take responsibility for your existence and please help out around here.If you dirty it,clean it,if you make a mess,if you want something special or when we need a hand be available.We can't force anyone but by continually referring back to an "agreement plan" it helped us eliminate screamfests,resentments and insanity.You have already set guidelines for your husband's being at home with you and what situations have to occur for it to work for the family.Continue on honestly before it gets to "war".... Like listen Honey(your choice of endearments!!:) I am going to need help around here,I feel when you arent helping it.(whatever)I also am feeling annoyed or whatever when Im doing and you arent, this is a team thing here and if it wasnt before then maybe we can work toward that now.,but be firm of what you are asking for...Is this easy,no but doable yes,,Your program tells you about 'enabling,doing for,etc so you have some tools.I find when I get things out in open and everyone at least hears whats going on it becomes easier to work toward a solution.I am by no means a "DR PHIL!! so this is just my stuff and things that have helped in our household and lives.Honesty ,as we say in our literature is the antidote to diseased thinking,so try and share honestly how you are feeling,without blame or assault etc and see if strides can be made.I always pray first in all my endeavors for any situation which kind of helps me stay as God centered and real as I can humanely be. Share at your support group or with your sponsor also and listen for suggestions,Remember everyone willl always have advice but you have to do the living with ,around and in the situation so in your own way and your own time,with prayer,you can reach a point that is helpful and can keep moving forward(remember you are also in recovery)..Let us know how its going.didnt mean for long diatribe,but lot of this stuff still close to me(living it)peace...
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
I only know what's expected of me when someone verbalizes it. I only know what I can do when I try it. I only know what I want 'after' I get it. I only know what someone is like when they show me.
I've been clean since April 3, 1989 (I love saying that!) but the main thing I've learned about the way the disease of addiction affects my life is this: I can't trust facts, my facts, my sponsors facts, the facts quoted in meetings, the statistics that say 1 out of 10 of us make it, or the statistics that say 50% of us make it. I've heard all over the board on that.
When I was using I couldn't trust my mind or be trusted. I operated on evidence. If someone told me that dope was good, I knew it might be crap. When I knew someone had overamped and been taken to the hospital on dope they had scored from a certain house, I was down there. I had hard evidence.
When I got clean, I learned to be trustworthy and I learned who to trust by the evidence. Not that hard. It's actually what I've always done.
It ain't the facts that convicts, those are presented by 2 sides and usually sound real good when taken singularly. I have to operate on the evidence.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if when your husband visited he asked you "what can I do to make your life easier today honey"? Now that our space ship has landed in the real world you need to remember that you have choices. The choices you make will go a long way to answering the questions you asked. I like the written agreement thing. It is a frame of reference that is black and white. Make one, use it, and by golly stick to it. Your al-anon group will be of great support here. I wish you and your entire family the very best.