P.O.S. Brother in Law

[angelo]

If he could have formulated a sentence. My brother in law should have written a book on how to screw up your children.

He was a dead beat, If he could hold a job long enough to earn a paycheck he would blow it on booze and drugs. His money was his and My sister was left to take care of the two kids on her meager salary. If she ever mentioned divorce he would go nuts and say he was going to kill himself.

My sister finally left him 3 years ago. He still managed to get visitation with the kids.

Invariably my sister would have to go get the kids because he would get drunk and start yelling at the kids.

Same thing happen last week except for a twist. The Mxther Fxcker tells my niece (who idolizes him as this tragic figure) and my nephew (who does everything to get some form of approval) That they are dead to him.

Once again he threatens to kill himself and starts waving a gun around.
Luckily his family steps in and takes the kids home. Then they go back to help the rest of the family deal with him.

He had thought the gun was unloaded and put it to his head.
What he did not realize was that in his drunken stupor he grabbed the wrong gun.

There was no click, just a small explosion and now there are two kids blaming themselves for this stupid asses death.

I am so pissed

Thanks for letting me rant

Ang

[teedubya]

This sucks... what a douche.

[KCChiefsMan]

damn that sucks, hopefully the kids will realize that the world is better off.

[Simply Red]

damn.

My sister's FIL did the same thing last year. Tore the family up for a while but they're better for it now.

[Iowanian]

Darwin wins, These poor kids lose.


Hopefully, they'll accept that he was an asshole with some serious problems and it was in no way their fault, and at some point, a more stable father figure will enter their lives and treat them the way a kid should be treated.

[Dave Lane]

At least he's dead sad as that maybe. The kids will heal and it will be better for them in the long run.

[RJ]

Wow. So horrible for those children. What a pussy to take your own life when you have kids to care for.

[FAX]

Originally Posted by angelo

The had already been taken out of the home.

They are on the cusp of being teenagers.

I am trying to be there for them, but I have always been the disciplinarian. Their father and I obviously did not get along and they knew it. I have spent time with both every day since sometimes just sitting in silence.

I want to thank everyone for their kindness.

Ang

Huge and mega prop things to you, Mr. angelo. This is absolutely the very best thing you can do for those kids - right now and for the foreseeable future. If nothing else, just listen. Even if they act out, throw fits, or discuss their feelings quietly and maturely - just listen. It's the very best thing.

When my father died (I was 13), a local attorney called my house to speak with me. He was a friend of the family and offered to meet with me. Just go fishing or have a coke or whatever - you know. My response wasn't good. I shut him down and shut him out. Angrily and rudely. I was pissed off and that was the only way I knew how to express it. It was also a way for me to test people to see if they really cared or they were just going through the motions (although I didn't realize that's what I was doing at the time). Sincerity is important to kids and they can spot a fake from a mile away. Anyhow, the attorney friend could have said, "Oh well, call me if you need something." and hung up. Instead, he hung in there. Eventually, he became an iconic and lifelong mentor to me. Listening is the key - no matter what you're listening to.

FAX