Mary, I am so sorry that your dad treated you that way!!!!!!!! That was so totally unacceptable! I get the feeling that his own feelings of inadequacy motivated what he said and what he did.

What did you have braces for?

When Don doesn't talk back I think that he is listening don't you think? He isn't listening when he is talking all the time defending himself?

Men handle problems differently than woman. When Don is telling you how to fix something he probably thinks that he is helping. When men have a problem they want to fix it immediately or minimize it so that it really isn't a problem anymore. Woman just want to mostly talk about it first so that they can deal with the feelings of it. My husband used to do the same thing until I discussed this with him so now he doesn't rush to fix it anymore.

So Don probably triggers you by reminding you of your father sometimes?

I am glad that J is starting therapy.

Mary you are one of the sweetest human beings on this planet and you are one of my good friends here! I care about you a lot!