FWIW, you are my favorite columnist on The Banter. I've drawn much inspiration from your descriptions of your life and family, from how you've dealt with adversities (in-laws, gov't shutdowns, MAGAs approaching your family), from how you're raising your children and preparing them for the inevitable challenges they'll face, and just generally the way you're living your life.
To grow to be who you are when your earlier years (and latter too, I suppose) were spent dealing with an intensely abusive father astonishes me. It is a testament to your strength.
A horrifying and at the same time inspirational story. Growing up in the shadow of a sociopath without the nurture of decent parents you somehow had the seeds of decency within you. You are a mensch. You “get it”. How many people with better upbringings don’t. Unfortunately, your brother who apparently suffered less than you appears to be broken, beyond repair.
It’s a cliche that we become our fathers/mothers but cliches exist for a reason.
Look at the generations of MAGAs. They are clones who never learn anything.
After not being part of a couple for the vast majority of my 49 years of life, I, a 'straight' female, decided to try dating, using an app. That was two and a half years ago, and during all the dating, I have met lots of men who, like you, Justin Rosario, are around my age.
Most of those men have mothers still living, mothers whose lives they are involved with, mothers with whom they may have a somewhat complicated relationship, but mothers whom they LOVE. For the most part, though, the same cannot be said of their feelings for their fathers--those feelings/relationships are WAY more troubled.
After reading the amazingly wonderful and illuminating sharing you did above, I am pondering whether the generation of men who were our fathers contained a larger than average number of men who became especially screwed up dads.
FWIW, you are my favorite columnist on The Banter. I've drawn much inspiration from your descriptions of your life and family, from how you've dealt with adversities (in-laws, gov't shutdowns, MAGAs approaching your family), from how you're raising your children and preparing them for the inevitable challenges they'll face, and just generally the way you're living your life.
To grow to be who you are when your earlier years (and latter too, I suppose) were spent dealing with an intensely abusive father astonishes me. It is a testament to your strength.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this. Harrowing, but brave!
A horrifying and at the same time inspirational story. Growing up in the shadow of a sociopath without the nurture of decent parents you somehow had the seeds of decency within you. You are a mensch. You “get it”. How many people with better upbringings don’t. Unfortunately, your brother who apparently suffered less than you appears to be broken, beyond repair.
It’s a cliche that we become our fathers/mothers but cliches exist for a reason.
Look at the generations of MAGAs. They are clones who never learn anything.
Hats off to you..what a courageous article. Well done on breaking the cycle of abuse: what a loving father you are is so very obvious in your writing.
After not being part of a couple for the vast majority of my 49 years of life, I, a 'straight' female, decided to try dating, using an app. That was two and a half years ago, and during all the dating, I have met lots of men who, like you, Justin Rosario, are around my age.
Most of those men have mothers still living, mothers whose lives they are involved with, mothers with whom they may have a somewhat complicated relationship, but mothers whom they LOVE. For the most part, though, the same cannot be said of their feelings for their fathers--those feelings/relationships are WAY more troubled.
After reading the amazingly wonderful and illuminating sharing you did above, I am pondering whether the generation of men who were our fathers contained a larger than average number of men who became especially screwed up dads.