My girlfriend left my son to fend for himself while she got drunk

05/18/2021

DEAR DEIDRE: AFTER getting hammered, my girlfriend locked herself in our bedroom leaving my ten-year-old son to fend for himself.

I’ve asked her to go but was I too tough?

I’m a single dad to my son. His mum drank and never bonded with him. So when we split up, I got custody.

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I met my girlfriend a year ago. She’s 41, while I’m 43. Things were great to begin with but then cracks began to show.

She told little lies here and there.

She’d go into any shop or garage and buy several bottles of wine – then demolish them. Yet she denies she has a problem.

When I had to travel for work three weeks ago, I left her to look after my son.

But when I phoned, he told me he’d not seen her. The bedroom door was locked and he was trying to cook dinner.

I contacted her and when she finally answered, she was slurring badly.

I told her she could leave, as my mum was on her way over.

I’ve only spoken to her on the phone since then and I’m avoiding her.

Have I done the right thing?

DEIDRE SAYS: You can’t risk your child being neglected.

Until she has accepted she must get some help, find alternative arrangements for childcare.

Find a moment to explain to her you lost your previous partner to drink and don’t want it happening again. Urge her to find professional help.

My support pack Dealing With A Problem Drinker will alert her to some home truths.