I had a wonderful childhood until I was about 11-12 years old. My Father started the Budweiser (Bud Dumber) I.V. And it went down hill from there. Every night he would come home and want to start fights. When I say every night, I mean every night. Dinner at my house was a horrible time. Dad was drunk at the table, barking orders about how I cut my food, how I hold my fork, how many times I chewed. As I got older things began to escalate to physical fights. It was horrible to have a boxing match in your front yard with your father while the neighbors looked on. Sometime the cops would need to be called. Back in those days the cops did not automatically arrest someone like they do now.
I remember When I was in my early twenties my Grandfather (Dad's Dad) told me I "need to have more respect for my father" my response to him was "would you respect a guy who came to you house and want to start a fist fight on a nightly basis?" I remember the dumbfounded look on his face.
This is why I never drink alcohol. It is responsible for more broken homes than any other substance.
The good news is after many years of a bad relationship with my father, I have forgiven him and now we get along ok as long as he is not drinking.
My mother was a good lady, she died in 1994, at the age of 42. It is strange to think that I am only 7 years younger than my mother was when she passed away. I could not imagine my wife leaving me in the next 7 years.
Good thread!