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Skidmore

(37,364 posts)
7. My dad had a similar story except
Sun Jun 16, 2013, 02:12 PM
Jun 2013

add in a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and periods of psychosis or catatonic states. He was extremely abusive towards us. I have spent my entire adult life trying to sort out how I could extract a wee bit of normalcy from all of that chaos. I finally found it in watching my son-in-law parent my grandchildren in a loving and respectful way. I watch them light up and race to the door when he comes homefrom work. I like that they literally will talk to him about anything and he will listen to them attentively. I love that they have no fear of him even when they know they have been naughty and will be receiving a consequence for their disobedience. I like that he laughs with them. I get a glimpse of what a good father is like and am so happy that our young ones will experience such love and kindness firsthand and not have to grow old and watch it from afar to learn about it. I last saw my father nearly fifty years ago. I did not go to his funeral. I never let my children near him. He had hurt me too many times and in too many ways.

Alcohol can be very damaging. It caused enough distress in my extended family that i was never much hedgehog Jun 2013 #1
MY father was an alcoholic a also. HE WAS MURDERED BY ONE OF HIS "DRINKING FRIENDS" trueblue2007 Jun 2013 #11
I'm glad you became a friend of Bill W. demosincebirth Jun 2013 #2
glad u didnt go down the same path Liberal_in_LA Jun 2013 #3
I'm glad you found sobriety. My father died of alcoholism when I was a little kid. raccoon Jun 2013 #4
How sad that he took that path... CaliforniaPeggy Jun 2013 #5
Thanks for sharing this. Jim Lane Jun 2013 #6
There is so much damage caused by drinking... WCGreen Jun 2013 #35
Alcohol is truly the most abused drug in this country. Many of us who LuckyLib Jun 2013 #50
My dad had a similar story except Skidmore Jun 2013 #7
Well you done made me cry. Exultant Democracy Jun 2013 #17
You are blessed with an open heart that allows you to be happy in others' happiness Hekate Jun 2013 #38
view from the west coast msedano Jun 2013 #8
Thank you for sharing this story... There for the grace of (insert) go we... MrMickeysMom Jun 2013 #9
My dad was a wonderful educator Betsy Ross Jun 2013 #10
Wow. Take care. Faygo Kid Jun 2013 #12
I'm sure he had problems timdog44 Jun 2013 #13
My Dad was also a drunk with a lot of unrealized potential rox63 Jun 2013 #14
Sometimes I wonder if addicts really have choices malaise Jun 2013 #15
My Father wasn't a drunk, but he was bad. Archae Jun 2013 #16
Ah, a thread after my own heart. byronius Jun 2013 #18
"There's a hole in everyman's soul the exact shape & size of their father" said someone, some time. duhneece Jun 2013 #21
For some of us, Father's Day is NOT all about daddy being a role model... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2013 #19
I have never wanted to tell someone who has been Skidmore Jun 2013 #20
Try having your dad dump your mom for a hotter model and skip out on child support,... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2013 #22
I'm sorry he caused you so much pain. Skidmore Jun 2013 #24
Trust me, once I decided to look to friends to be my family it got better. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2013 #25
You find family where you are able to. Skidmore Jun 2013 #29
Really? Wanna adopt me? Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2013 #31
There's a post on here telling people to stop bashing the guy who paid their tuition.... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2013 #54
I imagine that hearing the wonderful lives others may live may indeed, LanternWaste Jun 2013 #51
Then there are those who enjoy flaunting their superior status. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2013 #53
I have a suggestion. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #23
We already do that on Festivus. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2013 #26
It's not our fault that we are forced to endure Curmudgeoness Jun 2013 #33
How bout no? Trajan Jun 2013 #34
Every holiday, even the manufactured ones, is a chance for someone to shit on other people's joy ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jun 2013 #41
I think you missed the point of the OP due to your chip. morningfog Jun 2013 #52
The same can't be said for the replies, nor in all probability, the recommends. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #55
Your last sentence is beautiful. It choked me up. lamp_shade Jun 2013 #27
At least it was due to the drinking. Lady Freedom Returns Jun 2013 #28
I had a great dad that was a "drinking man". There was always booze and beer brewens Jun 2013 #30
my dad was "eccentric" - to be polite ------- CRAZY to be honest Douglas Carpenter Jun 2013 #32
My father was an alcoholic. pangaia Jun 2013 #36
My Dad Was Awol . . FairWinds Jun 2013 #37
It's strange, I just picked up a brochure talking about the stages of acceptance tavalon Jun 2013 #39
My father quit drinking in mid 30s treestar Jun 2013 #40
I think alcohol is far more addictive than most people realize, snot Jun 2013 #42
my father was a nasty, abusive asshole to both my brother and me Nanjing to Seoul Jun 2013 #43
There must be a symbiosis there ... Myrina Jun 2013 #45
Rec. for "family systems" H2O Man Jun 2013 #44
A lot of that sounds like my experiences. AtheistCrusader Jun 2013 #46
These always make me sad Treant Jun 2013 #47
Parenting is the most difficult human behavior to do really well. greatlaurel Jun 2013 #48
My Dad sent me to John Carroll and was an alcoholic as well zwyziec Jun 2013 #49
I can relate. Lunacee_2013 Jun 2013 #56
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