my friend's father

If your friend's father has a drinking problem there is not much she can do in that respect. She should stay close to her mother and understand that this must be very upsetting for her as well. She could call her father just to tell him she wants too know how he is. The best thing she can do is to help her mother as much as possible. You're a good friend and can help her by letting her know she can talk to you. Just being there for her is a big help. She needs to keep her daily routine and try to keep her parents troubles from affecting her as much as possible. I know that's hard but you can help her. When parents have problems like this the children are always the ones most hurt by it. Be there to support her and listen, make sure she knows this. And, as dainy1313 said (above), do some fun things just to get her mind off it for a while. These are the things I would do in your position and in hers.

I also experienced that when I was still a kid. I think it was one of my worst experience. My father and mother were quarreling and we were been crying at the corner.My father was not drunk and it is early in the morning. I did not understand what they were fighting for before. I think it was intense because to the extent that we need to move to other house. My mother brought us all,I and siblings. The only thing that I remember was , we move back to our own house and my parents were talked heart by heart. So all is well again. I think her parents are the one who can resolve their problem.

Hello Effinmuffin you are a good friend. Your friend remembers me my mother. My mother suffered similar situation in her home. It´s very sad when drunk people hurts physicall or emotional anybody else. I think the best you can do is to talk with her about school, or about friends, or taking an icecream together. It´s not easy when parents have a fight. Just try to help her focus on the daily school duties and responsibilities. Blessings Effin... dainy

Thanks for sharing. Good friends help each other console each other in moments of stress and sadness; a friend in need is a friend in deed .

Me, being the eldest, would surely try to patch things up. But prior to that, I would ask my mom the reason of their arguments. Then I would talk to my father.

I think you need to give her a lot of courage and confidence. If i were her, I will talk with my parents respectively, and find out the reason for the quarrel. And then i will try to calm them down and find some chances for them to recover the relationship.

Sounds like she needs a friend, so its good that you are her friend. It is indeed a heartache situation. You gave her the right advise - stay strong. If I were you, I would advise her to text her father or write him a letter. Perhaps not talk to him on the phone as yet. Let him cool down. Sometimes a parent can change his or her ways for the better when they realize how much they have hurt their own children. So, I would advise her to write to her dad. If he doesn't respond, at least, she had made the effort to reach out to him. If she decides she would like to meet him, it would be best to meet him in a neutral place, such as a restaurant. Most children, and this goes for adult children, do want to stay connected and bonded with their parents - so, she probably wants to find a way to stay connected to both her parents and not take sides. Perhaps she can help him get the help he needs to stop drinking. It's sad when a child has to help a parent but sometimes, that is way it has to work out for the better. All the best to your friend and her family.