The Opera Singer

My childhood was filled with chaos, addiction and very sick love. My dad came from a violent home and he tried to be the best dad he could be, I know that. But he would beat my sister and brother. My mom, bless her soul, was one of us. I remember hearing early in life that alcohol was her “medicine.” My dad quit drinking after a while but remained a dry drunk. My mom continued drinking, and even though she went to a drying-out program, she still denied that she was an alcoholic until the day she died. Both of my parents have since passed. I learned early to be the “perfect” one. I walled off my feelings and used denial to ignore or forget what was going on around me. Today I deal with PTSD.