My alcoholic sister-in-law had a three-month-old boy. She wanted to celebrate her one-year sobriety with her AA sponsor and asked us to babysit. About 10:00 at night they come to grab the baby. Both are hammered… What would you do? Leslie

Dear Leslie,

Your question gets me fired up!

Dear Liz:

I'm a dad in recovery who raised my daughter mostly as a solo parent. She recently married an addict in recovery . . . Should I stay out of it and let her figure it out? -Paul

Dear Paul. . . I wonder, did she observe codependency in you, either in your relationship with her or with others?

FAMILY WEDDING DRAMA—DO I INVITE MY DAD?

I’m getting married and don’t know how to handle my dad...I would love for him and my mom to walk me down the aisle. But I also don’t want him to ruin my wedding. What should I do? Felicia

Dear Felicia, What do you want to do? I suggest you remove everyone else's desires and look into. . .

I have a friend I adore who leans on me for encouragement and support. . . yet I’m realizing she doesn’t reciprocate. -Cathy

Dear Cathy,

You’re on the bottom side of the teeter-totter of an out-of-balance relationship.

Dear Liz:

At a recent family gathering my nephew was out of it—again—from the get-go, which made it awkward for everyone. . . My husband and I don’t want to be around him like that, but also don’t want to suffer the collateral damage of missing out. - Tori

Dear Tori,

I don't blame you. The ball is yours, though, and it sounds like you need to decide. . .

This tiny but powerful book by Dorothy Marie England offers a fresh perspective on “The Magical World of Chemical Codependency.”

DO I CALL CPS?

My mid-20s son lives with his baby and her mom in a filthy apartment. He’s super unmotivated, addicted to gaming, smokes marijuana. . . I’m inclined to call CPS, but they’ll know it’s me and I don’t want to lose them. What do you suggest? Tristan

Dear Tristan,

If you lose your son, you lose your granddaughter—it’s that simple.

CAN YOU SUPPORT AND FEEL SAFE WITH AN ADDICT?

My brother’s struggled with drugs for years. I thought he was sober now, but I watched him suddenly change during a meal. When he drove us home after dinner, he was all over the road. What should I do? -Riley

Dear Riley,

I hear that you want to help your brother, but safety takes priority over all other things. . .

WHEN PARENTS ARE THE ADDICTS

My mom drinks too much and it makes me uncomfortable. . . I’m just waiting for her personality to change and her passive aggressive jabs to start. . . Do I have to invite her to my birthday? Thank you, Suzie

Dear Suzie,

First off, you don’t HAVE to do anything. . .

AM I CARING OR CODEPENDENT?

When you have kids, how do you know what is codependency and what is caring for them? For example: My brother and his wife moved to Florida. . .

Dear Marie:

Yikes, if your brother hopes to rescue his 30-year-old son and manage his behavior.