Gambling Problem.

[Agricola]

My ex-wife was addicted to gambling, the reason we are now divorced.

I'd go to work then come home to find a big bill for the money she'd lost that day (she ALWAYS LOST).

When I stopped paying the gambling debts I'd return home to discover various items had disappeared from the house and reappeared in the pawn shop.

It came to an end when I returned one day to find my baby son alone in the house crying, hungry and alone whilst she played cards with her friends over the road. I barged in, dragged her out by the hair and gave her a bloody good beating (which still failed to do any good).

Today I have been divorved about thirten years and have sole custody of my son,

Trust me you could lose a hell of a lot more than a box of Behikes to gambling!

[smokin_e2011]

My ex-wife was addicted to gambling, the reason we are now divorced.

I'd go to work then come home to find a big bill for the money she'd lost that day (she ALWAYS LOST).

When I stopped paying the gambling debts I'd return home to discover various items had disappeared from the house and reappeared in the pawn shop.

It came to an end when I returned one day to find my baby son alone in the house crying, hungry and alone whilst she played cards with her friends over the road. I barged in, dragged her out by the hair and gave her a bloody good beating (which still failed to do any good).

Today I have been divorved about thirten years and have sole custody of my son,

Trust me you could lose a hell of a lot more than a box of Behikes to gambling!

I understand what your saying, but dragging your wife out of a house by the hair and beating her....wtf

[AdamK]

I understand what your saying, but dragging your wife out of a house by the hair and beating her....wtf

I also found that a tad worrying

[Agricola]

I understand how it would shock most people, but when my son's life was put a risk for a game of cards I lost control. The country I lived in at that time had alot of mosquitos and when I returned home there was a swarm of them biting my 6 month old son as he screamed alone in the house. Added to that gambling was illegal there also, I had tried every other method I could think of and yes violence didn't get any results either. I should have just got a divorvce the first time I discovered she was addicted to gambling but I was 21 and stupid.

[JOAO LA PEZ]

You will not get any condemnation from this BOTL, 20 years of Love and Care for Children whose "parents" cannot be bothered have left me in no doubt what I would do to ANYONE who put ANY child in harms way.

[Puff Scotty]

I'm not shocked either..let the punishment fit the crime, sometimes a short sharp shock can achieve what years of pandering can't do, meanwhile if you let that sort of behaviour continue only the child will suffer...

[Drewmidorn]

Whilst I understand the frustration that can come about in disfunctional relationships I'm not comfortable with the idea that we are defending the beating of a woman. I may be old fashioned but I think that striking a woman is never excusable.

[Puff Scotty]

Having not been in that particular position, I can't honestly say what I would have done myself, I know my frustration/anger has driven me to do things "outside the norm", no doubt in some peoples eyes ungentlemanly and not excusable but......everyone has a threshold...& if it's your child you perceive in danger then I think your limit will be reached....

[JOAO LA PEZ]

Whilst I understand the frustration that can come about in dies functional relationships I'm not comfortable with the idea that we are defending the beating of a woman. I may be old fashioned but I think that striking a woman is never excusable.

Under normal circumstances i agree with you, leaving a baby unattended and in possible harms way, normal rules of engagement don't apply.

[Drewmidorn]

Under normal circumstances i agree with you, leaving a baby unattended and in possible harms way, normal rules of engagement don't apply.

It is indeed a hideous situation but I doubt a beating actually solved the problem. I would suggest there were more constructive paths of action that were less vengeful. That is not to say I don't understand the frustration of the situation or the reaction. I'm just uncomfortable with the idea that in the cold light of day away from the situation this is still considered acceptable as opposed to understandable.

[Puff Scotty]

I can understand you being uncomfortable, but I believe my view is in line with accepted thinking that it was not pre-meditated so at the time of the incident, acceptable taking into account the situation, I also believe the legal systems in most civilised countries take this into account as well.

[Agricola]

Whilst I understand the frustration that can come about in disfunctional relationships I'm not comfortable with the idea that we are defending the beating of a woman. I may be old fashioned but I think that striking a woman is never excusable.

I understand and am not requesting someone excuse me, all I'm saying is that the OP revealed something about himeself, he'd rather not, concerning his gambling problem. I revealed my experiences with a gambling addict who happened to be my ex-wife and pointed out how it can destroy lives/families.

I lived in a country where the highest amount of deaths came from mosquitos, in her own family she had siblings that had nearly died from encephilitas (not sure about the spelling). Malaria was a big killer that once you had the parasite it caused the brain to swell either killing the host or inflicting life long brain damage upon them. If you put my son's life in danger I don't care if you're a man or woman or beast, I'm going to react in the same way. Some people may believe it's acceptable to "have a talk" or "come to a comprimise" over their child's life, I do not.

The point of my post was that by gambling the OP may be doing more than just missing out on some Behikes.

[Funkilee]

...this is a very honest and open thread and it's great to see (for the candidness that is), just getting things off ones chest can be very cathartic, the first step in overcoming an addiction is admitting you have one (often the hardest hurdle), which clearly you have overcome, next step, seek professional help and do not go to places that will trigger the habit, no doubt easier said than done, but if you 'truly' want to stop, you will do!

You'll definitely get there!