When I put him in his makeshift little crib I had the first of several revelations that night: “When you were using you probably would have let that kitten die.” At that moment I fully embraced the experience.
Tag: Father’s Day
You Are Not My Father
I had spent my whole life seeking certainty and security and this break exposed the foolhardiness of that quest. Here was the raw slate of rock bottom once again.
An End to the Parent-Child Role Reversal: Taking Care of Me
When my dad drank, he folded in on himself and quietly disappeared. When this happened, I’d wait patiently for his return while dreaming up myriad ways to make his life better. There was a little more than a week to go before my wedding day. Left on my to-do list was an array of tasks:… Continue reading An End to the Parent-Child Role Reversal: Taking Care of Me
I'm Sorry Daddy, I Won't Be at Your Funeral
I used to think my relationship with my father was unique, different: complicated on its best day and toxic, disruptive, and unbearable on its worst. I know now it’s not unique. I have always known—well maybe not always, but for a very long time—that I would most likely not be attending my father’s funeral. I… Continue reading I'm Sorry Daddy, I Won't Be at Your Funeral
