My father is an adult child of an alcoholic, & carries much of the baggage associated with that. My parents were very loving, but I think my father's unfortunate childhood left him with deep emotional scars. He was sometimes volatile, very sarcastic & hyper-critical. I shy away from suggesting that I was emotionally abused, but I think the roots of my anxiety & depression stem, in part, from growing up in that environment. One odd look from him can still make me feel like I'm 6-years-old again, even though I'll be 60 in June.

That stated, I grew up in a very tough neighborhood in Detroit; I'm convinced a "healthy fear" of my father kept me on the straight & narrow. I graduated from high school & college, never had any legal problems, & would like to think I turned out somewhat OK because of him. I guess I take the yin with the yang.