I need some advice. I’m 17 and I go to my dads flat every other weekend to see him. He lives about 1.5 hours away so it’s a bit of a hassle getting the train and he don’t drive. I like seeing him obviously he’s my dad but I feel like I’m missing out on time with my friends. They all go out and I’m at my dads most of the time. I’ve told him I feel sick and I can’t see him. I feel so bad and it’s really upsetting me but he’s an alcoholic and takes drugs when I’m there and I really don’t enjoy it, we do nothing but sit indoors. Should I feel bad? I’m contemplating on seeing him but I feel like I’m missing out on my teenage years

Maybe you could do 1/2 weekends a month with him and the rest of the month spend with your friends?🥰 don’t feel bad btw, it’s so fine to feel like your missing out! There is no point being unhappy/ regretting not going out with your friends just to please your dad.. maybe he will understand!

@hanzy4525 Think that’s what she does already. I would speak to him about it seriously and explain that you’re not enjoying your time with him and don’t feel you’re getting the quality time together anyway because of his drinking/drug taking so you’d prefer seeing your friends instead. Hopefully that’d give him a bit of a kick to stop drinking and actually make an effort with you when you do come x

I’m sorry your dad is going through this, firstly. Is he seeking help for his addiction? Second, I’m sure he’d understand that you want to see your friends. You’re young and you have your own life outside of family, as well. You should perhaps have a talk with him about it x

Thank you for all the advice. I’ve chosen to go and see him because I felt too bad, he has no other children or a girlfriend so it upset me that he would be on his own. It’s been an issue my whole life I’ve missed out on so many parties and so much time with my family to sit in a flat but I also don’t like to leave him on his own, I think if he moved closer it would be so much better but he refuses to. He’s his addiction for over 10 years, he’s even been told that if he don’t stop drinking he will get seriously ill but he don’t listen to anyone. Thank you for all the advice and I’m going to speak to him about how I feel this weekend x