when i was young, my dad and i would always be doing something together albeit doing yardwork, house maintainence, car repairs, etc.

then when i was a teenager things started getting distant between us. his leaving on business trips for 4-8 months at a time didn't help either. plus my mom was recovering from cancer and became an alcoholic. and when she drinks she gets to be the BITCHIEST person ever. i'd have to sit there and listen to her insult me non-stop, for hours, until i finally went to sleep.

when i got my license, i made sure i was not home after school until late as possible. my parents thought i was doing "illegal" stuff because i wouldn't come home for dinner or when they asked what time i was coming home, i'd say "sometime later".

i grew very distant from my parents...i can't say i hate them because they helped me whenever i needed it. but my dad yelled at me when i changed my major from engineering to poli sci saying "pussies have those majors" i told him, i wasn't interested in doing math and physics all my life and i wanted to do government work. he still resents it. my mom tryies to make things better between us but i don't return it - i was hurt too much too young.

so now, i keep communication short and simple with them, and since my childhood i've become very shy and too myself, fearing rejection and insults.