I have always noticed that sometimes in a family one manages to break free of the cycle of abuse. I’m glad my dad was one of them. All his brothers and sisters ended up alcoholics and addicts and who treated their kids like shit. His dad and his grandfather, and many before him were the same.

My dad told me specifically that after sitting in the dark hungry after his father spent his whole check on alcohol screwing his family out of booze and electricity, he vowed to never put his children through that and to this day he kept his promise.

I never went hungry, I was never left wanting, and he worked so hard that he can’t even stand up anymore just to make sure my mom and I were comfortable and happy. My dad wasn’t perfect, but I’m so proud of him for breaking the cycle and I appreciate and pay forward his sacrifice as an adult.