Question of the day

I have a very conservative family and this ethic is all-important. My father isn't really religious but work ethic was like a religion to his family and to not work and ask for hand outs was like blasphemy. His grandparents immigrated to the US in 1899 with almost nothing. They became farmers and then got into masonry work also. Most of my uncles and cousins have also served in the military. Hard work runs deep.

I'm thankful for his example on that, but as for being a role model, that was his one trick pony. He was angry all the time, belittled my mother and talked down to her. He blamed us kids every time HE misplaced something that nobody would have any reason to touch. The littlest annoyances would set him off and you could show him proof when he was wrong and he still wouldn't admit it. My mother eventually divorced him but not before he hid a bunch of assets in his brother's name so she got screwed in that deal. Every other aspect of his life was an example of what not to do. We spend time together now and get along better but more as distant friends than father and son. To his credit, he has never spoken negatively about my mother in front of me. That's about all I can say.