Replies to 'Black Sheep of the Family?'

     suffered abuse at the hands of his father.  It has taken him years to get over the effects of the abuse.  He still does not to this day trust anyone. He has been through all kinds of things.  His father took away his confidence and his ability to trust.  After his father was arrested for being a child molester, he started drinking to get away from all the pain and suffering that he was feeling.  This happened for years and now because of a new start he has a positive outlook on life. One thing that helped him was to write letters to his father and mother telling them how he hated what they have done to his life.  He let all the pain and heartache out that they had caused him.  It took him about 7 years of constant writing and cussing them before he could get it out of his system.  I think that you should either sit your father down and tell him how you feel or you should write him.  It is very admirable that you are trying to be better for your son.  You have to live for your self and your family, just your immediate family, your wife son and yourself.  I suffered abuse also at the hands of my parents and the only way that I can deal with them was to tell them that I never wanted to see them again.  We had to make a choice for us and our son.  We have been married 17 years and have a 15 year old son.  Don't give up. You can succeed in your goals.  We know.  Try what I said I don't know what kind of relationship that you have with your parents but you have to think about yourself and your wife and child.  You can e-mail me if you need to talk my e-mail is in my profile.  Good Luck!