Christopher has vivid memories from early childhood of his parents drinking together up until the time they divorced.  His father left when he was eight years old. Christopher thinks their alcoholism prevented his parents from loving him as a child; Frequently they didn’t attend his childhood gatherings or school functions.  Because Christopher was so in need of attention, he sought it first from other adults and then older kids and teens, who he hoped would take on the roles of his inattentive parents. But none of these people could fulfill his parental needs. While his relationship with parents has improved during his adulthood, they are both still active alcoholics.