For the past year or so, I've been noticing that my mom buys beer, then hides it so, I guess we don't notice it.

It's just been bugging the hell out of me a lot lately. She'll hide the beer cans in a Mt Dew case we have in our coat closet then bring only a few cans to the fridge, then stashes them in the bottom drawer under the potatoes and such.

Then when she gets the beer, she'll try to hide it. First if me or my sister is out in the kitchen, she'll wait until we're not looking. She'll hold it under her shirt, put it in her shorts pocket and when she's wearing a hoodie, she'll hide it in the front pocket. Then run off to their bathroom, or the laundry room to drink it. I've noticed lately, she's been doing it a lot more often. She's so sneaky about it.

If she's out of beer, she'll make up some bull excuse to run to the store and get a case. Whether it's "i have to go take back the movie we rented so we don't get fined" or "I have to get gas" she'll use any kind of excuse so we don't know.

Sometimes when I know what she's trying to do- hide it under her shirt or whatever- I just want to be like "Mom, quit trying to hide it. You're only making it more obvious." but at the same time I don't want her to try even harder to hide it from me.

It honestly is just really frustrating to me. I get so mad at her when I know she makes a "beer run", as I like to call it, or when I know she's hiding it. I don't know what to do other than just be a bitch to her. And she wonders why I act like that sometimes. And she wonders why I keep some secrets from her.

I don't know what to do anymore. Why does she feel the need to hide it from us? What should I do? Should I bring the topic up to her? Anyone??

Hi honey,

First of all i just want to say i completley understand what you're going through - i went through the same type of situation with my mother not so long ago.

If she is an alcoholic, the worst thing you can do is confront her when she's drunk - she'll either shout which will upset you. Or apologize and cry which won't mean anything the next day.

I suggest sitting down and talking to her - tell her you're worried and you know she's hiding the alchohol and don't understand why, just make sure she knows if there's a problem she doesn't have to hide it from you because you just want to help.

Perhaps you can elaborate - is she drunk a lot?

xx

I don't really know what you'd consider 'drunk'. She's not tispy, falling around, or slurring words. This is just me, but I think she's been drinking for so long that she's used to it, you know.

There have been only a couple time in the past few years where I've seen her full on drunk. (slurring words, peeing on the bathroom floor) Both those times she and my dad had been at a friend's party or a canoe trip with friends or something.

Ok, so either the problem isn't that bad - she's not getting drunk.

Or it's so bad she can drink what she wants and be stone cold sober.

I suggest talking to her, tell her you're worried.

xx