Why Doesn't Daddy Feel So Well?

Book excerpt: This is book is one of the most imaginative and innovative approaches to helping young children understand the nature of alcoholism and its devastating impact on them and their entire family. A simple story of a family with young children going through this life crisis is the teaching tool. The story is based on the author's personal experience and written for children ages 7-12. Instructions are provided to the parent to enable them to guide the child through the story emotionally and to invite them to identify and share their feelings about the family in the story, and most importantly, about their own family. The book uses Key Points at the beginning of each chapter to highlight critical issues the parent should discuss during the chapter. As both the parent and child read through the story together, the parent is focused and guided to use the story as a springboard for conversation and enlightenment regarding the child's own family situation and dynamics. At the end of each chapter is a section called, "Things to think about." These are a series of thoughtful questions for discussion that invite and encourage both parent and child to bring to the surface intense feelings that are sometimes buried deeply. The ultimate purpose is to help the child understand that they cannot cause, control, nor cure the disease, preventing them from unnecessary guilt and incurring permanent damage to their self-esteem. The story ends with a message of hope that there is help out there and that they are never alone. It also reinforces the notion that they are responsible for their own recovery and that there are many tools available. Finally a list of resources, phone numbers, and websites is provided for the reader to build on the experience the book provides.