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TravM
June 8th, 2010, 06:07 PM
I think to myself, "Why do I continue having a relationship with my dad?" We've never had a great relationship. He's an alcoholic and drinks practically every night, after he gets off work. He used to pull my hair and kick me if I "misbehaved."

I remember when I was 5, my mom was trying to leave him in the evening. She was next to the door with her bags and he was standing in front of her. Me and my sister were standing a few feet behind him and my mom said, "Kids, come on, let's go." He turned around and said something to the effect of, "If you move I'll bust your ass!" At the time, this scared the shit outta me. Not literally, but still, I was 5 and was very terrified of him. My mom later had to leave without us. At night, he took us to a place called Hickory Dickory Dock which had putt-putt, a jungle gym, etc. I think he done this to try and make us forget about what happened. Obviously, I haven't. Around a few more fights later, my mom took me and my sister to live with her parents. Around a few months later, we moved back with our dad.

One night, my mom and dad went to a bar for the night. I think I had just turned 10. My dad came home and started hitting my mom. I forget what the fight was about but I remember he had broken her leg. I remember her screaming, and I was crying and screaming also. My sister was in her room also crying. He then shoved shaving cream in her face and pushed her in the shower (Don't ask me why. I haven't found a reasonable explanation either). The next morning he took her to the hospital and acted as if everything was fine. He told his family and my sister that she tripped while walking up the stairs to our apartment. A few more fights later, and they separated. My mom arranged me to talk with the school counselor because I guess it was apparent that I was troubled, according to some of the teachers. I didn't want to talk to the counselor, so I acted as if everything was fine.

We were moving our furniture to another house one day, and I was carrying a box of dishes and glasses. I was carrying the box by the side handles (I was young at the time and didn't know that you carry it by the bottom), and I dropped the box which broke some of the dishes. He started yelling and I started crying. I was then carrying the scraps of glass to the trash and he kicked me. I feel on the ground and my hands started bleeding from the glass. A few months before, he called me a pussy and threw a brush at me because my mom asked me to brush her hair. He started yelling at my mom because she was defending me. He said that it was gay that I was brushing my mom's hair instead of watching the football movie on TV.

After this, my mom couldn't stand living with my dad anymore. They divorced after living unhappily with each other for 13 years. We moved to her family's house in West Virginia. This was in September 2007. I would call my dad to say hi until around March 2008. He just stopped talking and I didn't feel like dealing with him. My mom moved to her parents house in Florida in November 2008 and I decided to continue living with my aunts and cousins because at the time, I partied a lot and began taking up drinking and smoking. In December, I decided that I would see my dad for Christmas. He and my sister (who continues to love my dad even though his antics) picked me up in the morning and we stayed at a cabin in West Virginia, before we were supposed to go to South Carolina (which is where he lives). I only stayed there eight hours. At around 10, my future step-mom woke him up to tell him to go to sleep in the bedroom (he was in the living room). He was drunk and told her no and started pushing her. I can't really tell what happened because I was in the bedroom with my sister and my future stepsister (who is only 7). We started hearing yelling and banging on the wall. I think he pushed her to the fireplace and threw a laptop charger at her. I'm pretty sure he done a lot more to her. She ran into the bedroom with us and tried to block the door. He pushed it open and they started fighting in the other room. Somehow, my little stepsister went into that room also. Me and my sister could hear her screaming and them yelling. I remember him distinctly saying, "I've gotten more out of my cousin than I have you!" (meaning that she probably doesn't sleep with him a lot; Him saying that leaves me disgusted). My sister tried to call my aunt who she lives with, and my family from WV picked me and my sister up after my dad passed out drunk. My stepmom and stepsister went back with him after the police were called (we decided to sleep at the hotel that night when he was passed out).

I didn't see him again until last summer and then I stayed with him at Christmas again this year. He pulled another one of his antics on my sister because she was texting her boyfriend during a movie. A few minutes before, he had said some inappropriate things he would do to my stepmom in front of my stepsister because he was drunk. He later said sorry afterward.

I never expressed myself about this. I haven't told a lot of people about this ever. I know I shouldn't think about the past, but you wouldn't understand the situation if I didn't explain it. Plus, I really needed to get this off my chest. My dad has caused a lot of harm to me, physically and emotionally. I feel all the awkwardness and weirdness that I have is because of him. As of right now, I consider all of these past situations something that were lived in a previous life. I feel like a different person now and I want to leave all of this behind. But should I continue trying to have a relationship with a man who has caused me such anger, sadness, etc.? Should I try and mend the relationship? Or should I just let it go? I doubt he will be in my life much longer. Once I tell him I'm gay, that'll most likely be the end of it. And I'm prepared for it because I'm certain that that is what is going to happen. I'm sorry for "airing out the dirty laundry". Really, I am. I don't want to take the time out of your day to hear this damn rant. But I should I try and make the best out of the time we have? I'm most likely not going to tell him I'm gay until I'm 18. What he's done in my life is awful. No child should have to be subjected to this and I'm glad I know this. I'm glad that it happened, in a sense, because I grew up faster than most kids did or should. There's so many similarities between me and him, that I'm afraid that I'll become who he was, which scares me to death. Because I don't want to be that. Opinions? Should I try and continue having a relationship with him? Or not?

Scarface
June 8th, 2010, 06:30 PM
I have a quite similar story to yours though I never really like to talk about mine I will say that living with abusive junkie parents is probably the hardest way to grow up. Being broke, having no food, no one saying they love you, searching endlessly for that accepting feeling that you may have yearned for an oh so long time. You seem so close to breaking down and giving up, but you can't, you won't let yourself. I learned by painful experiences of what not to do with my life. It makes me a stronger person knowing that the choices that I make everyday are a lot better than the decisions they make/made.

There is no way to stop a junkie that deep into their addiction. Though the verbal/physical abuse continues and you feel scared for your life, you should never give up. Move onward. Though you still have a lot of time ahead of you because your young means that you will have more problems and issues to handle. Your dad has caused you great amounts of grief in your past, but even throughout everything he is still your father. Deep down inside of him is a scared being that still exists, but he washes away his feelings into his liquid diet.

My dad is still active in his addiction as for I am practically raising my 14yr old brother, but he is my incentive to be something great. To set the right example for him to show him the right way and to make sure that he doesn't make the same stupid mistakes as well as my parents did.

You seem to have a strong head on your shoulders. Use it to your advantage and weight out the options. If you want to see your father and possible have him make amends with you and hopefully patch up those wounds. Only you can make that decision Travis, but you should know that you have me in your corner whenever you need someone to talk to. I'm always here send me a PM/VM anytime. I know you're going to make the right decision.

TravM
June 8th, 2010, 06:57 PM
Ronnie, I feel as if I can relate to you so much. And that's scary. But you seem to have had it worse. I'm thankful that my parents weren't addicted to drugs, but my father is an alcoholic and my mother used to be. There have been numerous times where I have been scared for my life because of my dad and I will never forget that. Your support is overwhelming. I've never had someone who I think will always be behind my back, and I feel as if I don't deserve it. You're a great person and your words of wisdom always seem to help. I doubt me and my father will ever patch up and I'm still not sure as to what I'm going to do about the situation. Right now, I'm going to relax, go to the beach, burn, and not deal with my stress at the moment. Hopefully, I'll have an answer for myself soon. Ronnie, you're a terrific person and I'm glad that you give an effort and succeed to help me in my problems. You are right. Only I can make the choice. I hope I make the right one. I'm not sure if I can have such a negative influence (my dad) in my life any longer.

Scarface
June 8th, 2010, 07:06 PM
I'm still not sure as to what I'm going to do about the situation. Right now, I'm going to relax, go to the beach, burn, and not deal with my stress at the moment.

That's the attitude to have even though this is a family matter. It all takes time and even though shit may hit the fan you just have to hang in there the best you can. You have made it thus far don't give up you're never alone. Know you always have someone whenever you need someone to talk to. I know what you're going through all too well man and I never had someone that was leading me through. It was just me.

Thank you for all of your kind words, but if you see my title "Supportive Presence", that's exactly what I am. I help people when they're in most despair. I do my best. Hearing that is very touching. It gives me the acceptance feeling that I described in my first response.

Now back on topic, I can completely understand you not being able to patch it up, but please don't hold a grudge against him. Set that resentment free and whatever misadventures he gets himself into then one day hopefully he will understand.

Don't let him keep you down man. If you don't mind it don't matter.

TravM
June 8th, 2010, 07:37 PM
I'm sure my father has made some regrets in his life about what he has done to me and my mom, etc. Therefore, I'm not going to hold a grudge against him. He has never shown any remorse and has never said sorry for his past mistakes. If he is like me, then he probably bottles it up inside. Hopefully, he gets the help he needs.

But I need to focus on myself. I have too much frustration, anger, and sadness with myself that I need to sort out. If his negative presence and unpredictable antics cause damage with my life, I'll have to cut him out. I have to put myself and my needs and my life before his (as wrong as that sounds). He'll most likely be out of my life by the time I'm 18 if not before. I'm probably going to try and cherish these last few years with him.

Ronnie, you live up to your title well. I don't think that I've had a problem that your words haven't fixed. I honestly can't understand what good I've done in my life to deserve someone like you who has made a lasting influence on my life. Your advice makes me really think and evaluate the situation in a way I've never thought I could. I can't tell you how much it means to me that I can call you a friend.

helboy
June 14th, 2010, 05:26 AM
I don't know but my best relation ship is with my father. It is gide line in my life. I am sure my father has regrets some in his about what has done to me and my mother. I love my mom and my dad. He has never said sorry for his past mistakes. But i need to focus on my him self. I have to put myself and my needs life before his.