I see a change in my wife and I hope it's permanent. Her drinking and driving stunt on Tuesday ended up getting her fired and putting us in a real financial pinch.

There are things about an alcoholic that just don't make sense to me. The secrets, as I've written about before, are a big part of alcoholism. She didn't tell me the IRS was coming after her for back taxes and they garnished her last two paychecks.

Not only is she unemployed, but now we're left penniless. I haven't had to ask my parents for money in a long time, but on Saturday (the day after my wife was canned) I called.

I talked to mom about family photos I had sent down with my dad on Friday. He had picked up the kids from school for me and met me halfway. They are here spending the week at papa's place.

"I don't know which one to hang above the mantle," mom said. "These are wonderful. Oh, the one of him in the swing is darling."

"Thanks, mom. I thought you'd like them," I said, trying to look for an opening in our conversation so I could beg for moolah. "Oh, and the other reason I called is because I'm in trouble."

I didn't tell her about the arrest because I didn't want to send my mom over the edge (read previous the previous post "Mother, may I?" for some insight). I told her my wife lost her job and that her wages had been garnished. I foolishly had written a few checks that would now bounce because of this.

"Here, you talk to your dad and explain this to him," she said.

I went through the explanation again and dad, God bless him, said he'd do what he could. I gave him my account number at the bank and he drove down to deposit money that same day. He wrote it for enough to cover the checks. It still leaves me wondering what the hell I'm going to do about the basics, but at least my pantry is stocked and there's a roof over our heads for another month.

My wife called her mother, father and is planning to call her grandmother.

Her mom, who is helping support my wife's sister and two grandchildren following the death of their father, is already strapped and can't do much.

I've tried to be positive through all this. My wife is going to multiple meetings and on Friday, when I came driving home with the kids, one of her AA friends was at the house.

These are all good signs. My wife said, "That other person is dead." God, I hope so.

I hinted to my mother that I may be looking for more than some pocket change. I told her it may come to the point that I need a place to stay.

She called me back that evening and said I was welcome to the two back bedrooms if I needed them.

I don't have much time to write today as I finally talked my wife into going back to church. It'll be the first time in two months. It starts at 8 a.m.

I can't believe my life has come down to this. Al-Anon has helped me to cope and I know I need to do more with the group.

As far as the baby is concerned, he's not being left alone with my wife anymore. She also doesn't have a set of car keys and she's OK with that.

For now, I'm just trying to hold on but, honestly, I feel like I'm losing my grip.