Damn. What a bittersweet story. Beautiful and tragic. Takes me back to my childhood before my father got sober. He was also a heavy drinker who wouldn’t take a drop of disrespect from anyone. When this happened while he was under the influence of alcohol, 🤦🏻♂️ . Let’s just say it was a recipe for some really toxic behavior. Luckily back then 4K video wasn’t a thing, camera phones weren’t either and almost nothing ended up on the internet because there wasn’t any place for it to go. I’ve seen and had a hand in colossally more dramatic situations. My experiences were wildly traumatic at times because they were really violent and I had a front row seat but nonetheless I know how you felt. I felt similarly for years before he got sober. In fact I got sober about 4 years ago because I saw myself becoming as destructive as he was to people and the world around him only my targets were myself and my family. It’s hard not to love them through all the mess because at the end of the day they’re our parents but in reading this I naturally cling to your sadness and embarrassment more than the love and grace you have for your mom. I think it’s more challenging to choose love and acceptance so it speaks volumes of your character. This was a great piece and vulnerable too. Thanks for sharing. I FELT this.
What a great read! Equal parts funny, sad, and profound. I can't decide if the mother sounds like someone who would be fun to drink with or a CPS call waiting to happen
Hey there! This story compelled me to crack up, well up with tears, reflect on my past fondly, and with a more serious take, I subbed. Thanks! I needed that and will surely appreciate more. 😂
She sounds a bit like me Ken mum, except mine didn’t know the internet well enough. She also didn’t get into quite so serious fights, but Oi. I lost me dad when I was 16, and for a few years prior, he’d have violent tantrums. He’d threaten to burn the house down. He’d then go off in the middle of the night, after saying he’d commit suicide.
the thing was that I couldn’t defend her. I cared, I loved her, but defending her would have fed into her negative behaviour. I had to do the tough love thing, n b a mum to me own mum. I couldn’t defend dad’s behaviour either. I did once have to defend mum against dad. They rarely did that for me.
For me, I was frequently neglected, despite the parents saying otherwise. They were there, but their focus was on themselves.
Sometimes, we as the children of mentally ill parents and grandparents, have the toughest decisions. We have to choose between doing what’s harder, but also what is right, or letting the parent do as they will, because we feel powerless.
Damn. What a bittersweet story. Beautiful and tragic. Takes me back to my childhood before my father got sober. He was also a heavy drinker who wouldn’t take a drop of disrespect from anyone. When this happened while he was under the influence of alcohol, 🤦🏻♂️ . Let’s just say it was a recipe for some really toxic behavior. Luckily back then 4K video wasn’t a thing, camera phones weren’t either and almost nothing ended up on the internet because there wasn’t any place for it to go. I’ve seen and had a hand in colossally more dramatic situations. My experiences were wildly traumatic at times because they were really violent and I had a front row seat but nonetheless I know how you felt. I felt similarly for years before he got sober. In fact I got sober about 4 years ago because I saw myself becoming as destructive as he was to people and the world around him only my targets were myself and my family. It’s hard not to love them through all the mess because at the end of the day they’re our parents but in reading this I naturally cling to your sadness and embarrassment more than the love and grace you have for your mom. I think it’s more challenging to choose love and acceptance so it speaks volumes of your character. This was a great piece and vulnerable too. Thanks for sharing. I FELT this.
Thanks for reading and sharing this story, Joe! Means a lot
Such a great story. This could only happen in Walmart - never Target.
🙏
This EXACT thought ran through my mind- couldn’t be Targét
It's so depressing at Walmart. I hate to speak ill of people, but the workers sometimes feel as lost as I am when I ask for help.
As a former Walmart employee, I can assure you this is accurate.
Blink twice if on the first day of training they said “Listen here, this ain’t aTarget.”
She sounds like a handful! I’m lucky; my Dad was a big man but a happy, funny drunk.
Aaaah Marc, you crack me up
Laughter and sadness walk hand and hand often. I greatly enjoyed reading this as my mom is also a little crazy.
Same. My whole family is a little crazy. Good people but I empathize with him. Sometimes you just have to suck it up for your loved ones.
Damn, that was beautiful.
🙏
came for the gratuitous video of obese people taking their self-loathing out on others...
feel cheated
My bad, dawg
it’s all good dude, it was a worthy write-up.
What a great read! Equal parts funny, sad, and profound. I can't decide if the mother sounds like someone who would be fun to drink with or a CPS call waiting to happen
Thanks for reading! She's definitely both. Just don't piss her off when she's past the 8th beer or it won't be CPS you have to call.
Damn she sounds like a hoot
This was warm and heartbreaking. Beautiful.
I enjoyed what you did with this !
Hey there! This story compelled me to crack up, well up with tears, reflect on my past fondly, and with a more serious take, I subbed. Thanks! I needed that and will surely appreciate more. 😂
Thanks, man. Much appreciated!
Very sad.
I love this story. I love out of control Americans. I hope you all are doing well.
She sounds a bit like me Ken mum, except mine didn’t know the internet well enough. She also didn’t get into quite so serious fights, but Oi. I lost me dad when I was 16, and for a few years prior, he’d have violent tantrums. He’d threaten to burn the house down. He’d then go off in the middle of the night, after saying he’d commit suicide.
the thing was that I couldn’t defend her. I cared, I loved her, but defending her would have fed into her negative behaviour. I had to do the tough love thing, n b a mum to me own mum. I couldn’t defend dad’s behaviour either. I did once have to defend mum against dad. They rarely did that for me.
For me, I was frequently neglected, despite the parents saying otherwise. They were there, but their focus was on themselves.
Sometimes, we as the children of mentally ill parents and grandparents, have the toughest decisions. We have to choose between doing what’s harder, but also what is right, or letting the parent do as they will, because we feel powerless.
This is the way.
What a joy to read that!! 👌👌👌
Whew. What a gut punch. So real.
bare feet. you know some stuff has gone down.