What I would say to my mother if I could (aka Rant):
Since you've just spent the last 5-10 minutes yelling about how much Daddy pisses you off (term of endearment here and lack of it earlier fully intentional), here's what pisses me off:
Yes, I realize you have been the only one "working" in our family for years, yes i realize we're tight on money, and yes I realize you've just worked 12hrs in a friendless job that you abjor, but SHUT UP!!! You're so damn full of it! He has done so much for us. He has always supported us as a family, supported *you*; he *loves* you. Don't ask me why since you don't deserve it, but he does. He always has and always will because somehow he sees something in you worth loving.
But here's what I see: I see a man who woke up this morning, did laundry and paperwork and called the vet and set out 12+ tents to dry and unloaded/packed the truck and trailer, took the dog to the vet, went to the bank, took the Pathfinder stuff all to the church and dealt with people there, then came home to immediately start more laundry and fix supper so that *you* can have food when you come home and then just takes the shit-load of crap that you throw at him because he's misunderstood one thing and hasn't completed the other thing you asked him to do during his completely full day.
But sure, go ahead and scream at him and tell him he's an idiot since it'll make *you* feel like you're above him. And I agree: he *is* an idiot. He's an idiot for staying with you all these years.
You wonder why he's so moody, why he's so depressed and forgetful lately and why he doesn't immediately accomplish every little thing you demand of him. Well I'll tell you why: it's because he doesn't feel like being Mr. Mom for 4+ years has made him worthy of being a respectible father. His son treats him like shit and his daughter is not only 2300 miles away but may also have heart issues that he can't pay for because - frustration - he's either OVERqualified or uneligablefor any jobs he applies for and his companies are finally about to declare bankrupcy. He grew up with his parents telling him he wasn't capable of amounting to anything and now he's spent the last 24 years being kicked into the ground by the woman he adores, so yeah, I'd say by now the suicidal implications and mood swings and proclaimations of being a failure and giving up are because he's finally layed down and accepted what everyone's been telling him his entire life: that he's completely worthless.
So basically, poor you, your life sucks. Well, so does his, and H.W.'s, and mine. Thanks for noticing.
I hope Daddy lives long enough to realize *you're* the worthless one.