Troubles Were to Be Kept Private

We were a dysfunctional family growing up. Of course, that word was not part of any one's vocabulary in those days. We always thought that we were the only family that went through the trauma of living with the sad times that resulted from Alcoholism. However, as we grew up; we realized that we were not alone. My mother told me that she had a brother that also suffered from this disease.

My mother had several emotional breakdowns and I also was effected emotionally by the events that were taking place in our home. I was in elementary school at the time and can remember hearing the very loud arguments between my parents. This would cause me great anxiety and feeling of fear would still be with me the next day when I went to school. I would think about my home life and cry. The teacher would find out why I was crying and then my parents were contacted.

My parents were not happy about having their troubles known. I was told to keep or private life private. That is the way it was then; you dealt with your problems and did not involve outsiders.