Mental Health Support
Related: About this forumquick tribute to my father
THIS IS THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP. Abrasive and unkind comments not welcome here.I must still be doing a massive biochemical readjustment, because I'm STILL more emotional than usual.
At any rate, after 50+ years, it popped back into my brain that my father was an unflagging supporter of my competence. For whatever reason, I would say "I cannot do it" and he would instantly say no, you can, keep trying, let's keep working on this, etc.
He had the right attitude for a father and a parent. Yes, of course, there are some things in life we just cannot do for whatever idiosyncratic reason, but at least give it a decent try. If you give something a decent try and you just cannot do it without going insane, then, ok, you did your best and time to move on. Sometimes we need tutoring. Sometimes we need time. Sometimes we don't have the right equipment or training or materials, etc etc.
If you did not have a father figure or father, my sympathies. I hope, if you did have a father, that he was a decent one. My father had his flaws, as we all do, but allowing me to give up too early was NOT one of them.
All the best to you this February 2018.
MLAA
(18,575 posts)Siwsan
(27,261 posts)He was my rock. They say your strongest, most significant role model is the same sex parent. Not for me. It was my Dad. He died in 1999 and I still think about and miss him every single day.
elleng
(135,848 posts)as did I.
steve2470
(37,468 posts)samnsara
(18,281 posts)(((hugs)))
Skittles
(158,567 posts)always keep trying, Steve; yes INDEED
steve2470
(37,468 posts)All the best to you.
auntAgonist
(17,257 posts)sometimes it was downright awful breaking the same oxygen as he did BUT he was a great provider. Doing the best he could to get for his family all the necessary things we needed to grow up.
Sometimes we got what we wanted. I give my Dad the recognition he deserves when it comes to raising his family. Sadly we didn't get along 99% of the time.
There are things I cannot forgive him for.
Steve I'm so glad that had an encouraging spirit to raise you to at least TRY
Thank you for sharing your thoughts however brief in writing.
aA
kesha
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)My mother and older sister were my nemesis, but my father was on MY side.
But he died when I was 16...