I can relate
|
|
We know the suffering and financial burden of living with someone who was drinking and driving and got caught. My son started drinking when he was in college at Mizzou and his decision to drink and drive caused us much grief for about 8 years. He finally lost his license for 5 years after his 3rd DUI. He had had some impaired driving, one-car accidents and he totaled a car but no other person was ever involved nor did he ever do any property damage, thank goodness. He got arrested a couple of times for drinking and driving, and the legal fees ran well into 5 figures. His bad choices became our punishment even though they were HIS choices, not ours. We were forced into having him live with us and providing transportation so he could finish college, and work. It was either that... or have him homeless on the streets with no job, no money, no hope or dead. Dealing with him was a constant worry for us because if he slipped, that 5 years could easily become 10 or even forever. We wanted to give him ONE last chance to redeem himself but I just didn't know if he would. Surprisingly, he kept his nose clean and in 2016 after 5 years, he finally got his driver's license back. He had to have the device installed on his car for 18 months and was required to blow every time he drove but he did it. He learned his lesson. He began using Uber faithfully when he went out with friends and a couple of years ago, he stopped drinking altogether. His choice. He never wants to go through an experience like that again and neither do we. It wasn't easy but he graduated from college, has a job, has his own apartment, an old car that gets him around just fine, and he's able to take care of himself financially. We we grateful that DUI chapter is over.
