Dad! Your Burning Down the House
A Story About Living with an Alcoholic.34 total reviews
Comment from Wendy G
Such a sad story, and the burden on you was enormous. Yet you showed great compassion and care for him, somehow sensing that his alcoholism was a disease. And you were indeed a hero saving your father and siblings from the fire.
Wendy
Title: needs to be "you're" (not "your") as you need the abbreviation for "you are"
reply by the author on 12-Feb-2025
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Such a sad story, and the burden on you was enormous. Yet you showed great compassion and care for him, somehow sensing that his alcoholism was a disease. And you were indeed a hero saving your father and siblings from the fire.
Wendy
Title: needs to be "you're" (not "your") as you need the abbreviation for "you are"
Comment Written 12-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 12-Feb-2025
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Thank you so much Wendy for the kind words, ideas and review. I truly appreciate you!
Comment from DonandVicki
I could really connect with your story on so many levels, I grew up in Toledo Ohio and my father was an alcoholic as well. I enlisted in the Navy to get away. My mother did not work in a factory, she was a nurse.
reply by the author on 12-Feb-2025
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I could really connect with your story on so many levels, I grew up in Toledo Ohio and my father was an alcoholic as well. I enlisted in the Navy to get away. My mother did not work in a factory, she was a nurse.
Comment Written 11-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 12-Feb-2025
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Thank you so much! I truly appreciate the kind words and great review!
Comment from Mintybee
This slice-of-life wrapped up in reflection was a tear-jerker. It's full of heartfelt lines and beautiful phrases that contrast with the dark subject matter. The love and the fear and the stress all come through equally in this non-fiction story. This is very well written.
Mintybee
reply by the author on 12-Feb-2025
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This slice-of-life wrapped up in reflection was a tear-jerker. It's full of heartfelt lines and beautiful phrases that contrast with the dark subject matter. The love and the fear and the stress all come through equally in this non-fiction story. This is very well written.
Mintybee
Comment Written 11-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 12-Feb-2025
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Well, thank you so much Mintybee! I truly appreciate the kind words, great review and you!
Comment from Amelie Johns
Thank you for sharing your personal story, Harry. This is a well written personal account of what you had to endure as a child. The line that stood out to me the most was 'I thought it was all my fault'. As a child we can't process trauma and our young minds cannot make sense of our elders behaving certain ways and so the child tends to put all the blame on themselves. It is very sad.
Thank you for sharing. While this is a sad read, I enjoyed reading your story. Great title!
Best wishes,
Amelie
reply by the author on 12-Feb-2025
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Thank you for sharing your personal story, Harry. This is a well written personal account of what you had to endure as a child. The line that stood out to me the most was 'I thought it was all my fault'. As a child we can't process trauma and our young minds cannot make sense of our elders behaving certain ways and so the child tends to put all the blame on themselves. It is very sad.
Thank you for sharing. While this is a sad read, I enjoyed reading your story. Great title!
Best wishes,
Amelie
Comment Written 11-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 12-Feb-2025
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Thank you so much Amelie! I truly appreciate the kind words and great review!
Comment from Rachelle Allen
This is certainly a tragic tale. Did you know that there's a typo in your title, though? It should read "You're" instead of "Your." When it's in the story, it's spelled correctly. Easy fix.
Since this is a writing site, Harry, I'm going to critique the writing of this piece rather than the emotion. Please know that it doesn't mitigate my compassion for your situation in any way.
There are SOO, so many cliches here. Here are just a few:
*I always thought it was my fault
*had a heart of gold and would help anyone in need. (this is actually TWO cliches in the same sentence)
*It was almost like Jekyll and Hyde
*However, alcoholism is a disease, and if a person does not want help, there is nothing you can do.
I trust you know I am reviewing this with nothing but respect. My best to you always. xo
reply by the author on 12-Feb-2025
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This is certainly a tragic tale. Did you know that there's a typo in your title, though? It should read "You're" instead of "Your." When it's in the story, it's spelled correctly. Easy fix.
Since this is a writing site, Harry, I'm going to critique the writing of this piece rather than the emotion. Please know that it doesn't mitigate my compassion for your situation in any way.
There are SOO, so many cliches here. Here are just a few:
*I always thought it was my fault
*had a heart of gold and would help anyone in need. (this is actually TWO cliches in the same sentence)
*It was almost like Jekyll and Hyde
*However, alcoholism is a disease, and if a person does not want help, there is nothing you can do.
I trust you know I am reviewing this with nothing but respect. My best to you always. xo
Comment Written 11-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 12-Feb-2025
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Lol! Yes Rachelle, I did know that. Did you know that you can only put some many words in that little box for a title? It would not let me put the whole title there. I have had so many people say that, but I thought people on this site knew you could only put so many words in that box. I don't think these are cliches anyone who has ever dealt with an alcoholic knows these things are true. I don't mind criticism with my writing, but you can't change the truth. I always thought it was my fault because if I had not been born, maybe he wouldn't be an alcoholic. And yes, he was a Jekyll and Hyde - two different personalities. Alcoholism is a disease and can be treated if one chooses to do so - he chose not to...Thank you so much for your review. I truly appreciate you!
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I did know that about the title. I just never thought someone would deliberately misspell a word to accommodate that unfortunate FS formatting glitch.
I think I did not do a good job of conveying my point regarding the cliches. Truisms and cliches are not the same. A truism doesn't have to be worded with the same exact words as have been used already because THAT'S what makes them cliches. Instead of putting it under the umbrella of "Jeckyll and Hyde" (which is a cliche'), if you share a specific vignette that occurred, that illustrates a time when his personality changed, that would make your version of this age-old affliction stand out for your reader.
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I couldn't fit the whole title in there lol! So I had to abbreviate.
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Well, except that's not an abbreviation for that word; it's a misspelling. It's like saying "steep" is an abbreviation for "Steeple." It's not; it's just an incorrect word.
What about this: Dad's Burning Down the House!
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That's like telling someone dad's burning down the house. It changes the whole meaning. As a child, that is what I said to him.
Comment from Teri7
Harry, This is a very well written story about living with an Alcoholic Father. I can truly understand where you were coming from. I am a lot older than you are, but my dad has been in the Navy and ended up having six nervous breakdowns. I was afraid of him, but like you I still loved him. It was crazy growing up in our house as a child. I can only thank God for protecting us all those years. Thank you for sharing! Blessings, Teri
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2025
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Harry, This is a very well written story about living with an Alcoholic Father. I can truly understand where you were coming from. I am a lot older than you are, but my dad has been in the Navy and ended up having six nervous breakdowns. I was afraid of him, but like you I still loved him. It was crazy growing up in our house as a child. I can only thank God for protecting us all those years. Thank you for sharing! Blessings, Teri
Comment Written 11-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2025
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Thank you so much Teri. I truly appreciate the kind words and response. Thank you for the review. I truly appreciate that!
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you are so welcome my friend!
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Roger that!
Comment from mermaids
Both of my parents were heavy drinkers, so I can relate to your story. You were the parentified child, having to babysit your father but alcohol addiction creates that. Excellent story that is well written and I am sure many can relate to what you went through.
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2025
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Both of my parents were heavy drinkers, so I can relate to your story. You were the parentified child, having to babysit your father but alcohol addiction creates that. Excellent story that is well written and I am sure many can relate to what you went through.
Comment Written 11-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2025
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Thank you so much! I truly appreciate you and your execellent review!
Comment from Rick Gardner
Sadly this drug consumes many lives, something similar exists through out human history, some release from the stress of daily routines. A condition I am afraid I am dealing with also. After long days of surgery, I wanted and needed some relief. The next day was waiting, the last one not over yet. Think you would like my recent poem "A Path Of Independence"
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2025
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Sadly this drug consumes many lives, something similar exists through out human history, some release from the stress of daily routines. A condition I am afraid I am dealing with also. After long days of surgery, I wanted and needed some relief. The next day was waiting, the last one not over yet. Think you would like my recent poem "A Path Of Independence"
Comment Written 11-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2025
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Thank you so much Rick. I truly appreciate you and the review!
Comment from pome lover
It does sound tough, living with an alcoholic father, but you also have the memories of doing what you could for him.
It's a shame that one or some of his friends couldn't have helped him - tough men, instead his child and his wife.
A sad story.
Katharine
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2025
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It does sound tough, living with an alcoholic father, but you also have the memories of doing what you could for him.
It's a shame that one or some of his friends couldn't have helped him - tough men, instead his child and his wife.
A sad story.
Katharine
Comment Written 11-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2025
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Thank you so much Katharine. I truly appreciate your kind words and review!
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
That was horrific! I'm so sorry for your loss. It is hard to stop anyone from doing things if they don't want to. Sometimes the addiction is too strong. It was lucky that you woke up when you did, it could have ended in a major tragedy with you all dying. I can understand your mother worrying about leaving you and your siblings alone with him. Such a sad story, that he wasn't a violent drunk made it easier, but still very hard on you. This must have been hard to write but you did it perfectly. Well done. Sandra xxx
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2025
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That was horrific! I'm so sorry for your loss. It is hard to stop anyone from doing things if they don't want to. Sometimes the addiction is too strong. It was lucky that you woke up when you did, it could have ended in a major tragedy with you all dying. I can understand your mother worrying about leaving you and your siblings alone with him. Such a sad story, that he wasn't a violent drunk made it easier, but still very hard on you. This must have been hard to write but you did it perfectly. Well done. Sandra xxx
Comment Written 11-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 11-Feb-2025
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Well, thank you so much Sandra for the kind words and review. And yes, it was very hard to write...
