I dreaded when father-in-law came for Christmas and stayed for three months throwing us all into despair. It's a wonder we all didn't end up in the looney bin! I finally got the courage to tell him off but, unfortunately, it was too little, too late; the damage had taken its toll on the boys!
He's deceased now! I got quite tipsy at the funeral, which was the only way I could get through it! I'm not proud admitting that fact, but I had to survive somehow and the liquor sure helped! Walking into a room where most of the family was against me now because I had the NERVE to tell the head-of-the-family off, and he told everyone what a b1tch I was now!
I learned then after my outburst at him that everyone must earn respect, not demand it just because they were a parent! When I got that AHA moment, I will never forget, I was washing dishes, and I broke a few for my stupidity in taking that crap for all those years and my poor children suffering!