Children’s issues

The Amityville Obsession

by Bill Brenner September 28, 2010 Children's issues

Part of my obsessive-compulsive behavior includes a study of the more morbid pieces of history. The Manson murders is one example. The Amityville murders is another. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with the latter. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72rWAe0pUdQ&fs=1&hl=en_US] The match for the fire is a book I just read called “The Night The DeFeos Died” by Ric Osuna. The book goes a long way in crushing the bullshit hoax about the house being haunted. I watched “The…  [Read More]

Happily Ever After Is Bullshit & That’s OK

by Bill Brenner September 21, 2010 Addiction

Often, when depression slaps me upside the head, it’s on the heels of a prolonged period of good feelings and positive energy. Especially this time of year, when the daylight recedes early and returns late. These setbacks can be discouraging, but you can survive them with the right perspective. Mood music: It’s easy for people who fight mental illness and addictive behavior to go on an endless, futile search for the happily ever after, where…  [Read More]

The C Group of Paul Revere

by Bill Brenner September 14, 2010 Children's issues

Two things can doom a kid to a future of depression and addiction: Overprotective parents and clueless school districts. This is a post about both. Mood music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9dW8_qOjzQ&fs=1&hl=en_US] Neither case is one of evil. It’s about good intentions gone wrong. I think of the old saying, “The path to hell is paved with good intentions.” In the case of overbearing parents, this was only partly true for me. My father was all about pushing me…  [Read More]

A Sister’s Battle with Depression

by Bill Brenner September 7, 2010 Children's issues

This blog is chock full of my own experiences with depression and addiction. I even hint here and there about how the addictive behavior runs in the family. But I’ve avoided the story of depression among siblings until now. This post is about my older sister, who had it much harder than me, and whose progress over the years has inspired me.   I haven’t mentioned it up to this point because it’s her story…  [Read More]

Bully’s Remorse

by Bill Brenner August 19, 2010 Children's issues

There was a kid in high school everyone used to pick on. He had a monotone voice and was frail. Kids were terrible to him, including me. Mood music: [spotify:track:5Qy0zLjQy3czoj0yZ7DFkk] For you to understand what I’m about to get into, a review of the 12 Steps of Recovery are in order, with special emphasis on 8 and 9: 1. We admitted we were powerless over [insert addiction. Here’s mine]—that our lives had become unmanageable. 2. Came to…  [Read More]

The Pedophile

by Bill Brenner July 23, 2010 Addiction

Some people deserve to spend life in a box. But even they have a shot at redemption. As a dad, I have zero tolerance for anyone who hurts a child. So when I discovered someone I’ve known for many years spent a decade behind bars for pedophilia, It was like a knife in the gut. Further complicating matters is that as a recovering addict, I can’t help but feel bad for this guy. But only…  [Read More]

When Parents Fail

by Bill Brenner July 19, 2010 Children's issues

Sometimes, a child’s worst enemy is his/her parents. Mood music: “Institutionalized” by Suicidal Tendencies (The Pepsi Song): [spotify:track:1KpRBS8dbDw7LxMhuK7Bso] If I’ve learned anything on my long journey to recovery, it’s that addicts can almost always trace their behavior back to their parents. That’s certainly the case for me. My mother was always pushing food on me. She did it out of love and meant no harm, but that and the Crohn’s Disease battle certainly tilted my…  [Read More]

Notes on Being a Dad, a Son and Grandson

by Bill Brenner June 19, 2010 Children's issues

The author shares some writings on his father, grandfather and kids for Father’s Day. Mood music for this post: “Holiday in the Sun” by the Sex Pistols. Has nothing to do with the topic, but tomorrow is Father’s Day and I felt like hearing some Sex Pistols. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWF9MMxnekQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Since it’s Father’s Day weekend, I thought the appropriate thing to post would be these items on my father, grandfather and my children… Snowpocalypse and the Fear…  [Read More]

Too Young for the Truth?

by Bill Brenner June 9, 2010 Children's issues

Sean learns more about the man he’s named for than the author intended at this young age. All things considered, he took it well. Mood music for this post: “Leslie Anne Levine” from The Decemberists: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml0VI8VZO2U&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Sean and Duncan were fighting in the bathtub. I can’t remember what started it, or what sparked this angry comment from Sean: “I’d rather commit suicide than apologize [for whatever he did].”  I punished him by making him go…  [Read More]

How I Became the Easy Parent

by Bill Brenner June 6, 2010 Children's issues

Here’s a side of my recovery that the kids enjoy: I’m more of a push-over than I used to be. Mood music for this post: “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” by The Runaways: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RTipAZuMRI&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Back when my OCD was out of control, I craved order. When you have kids, order is impossible. I was very big on sticking to routines. Brushing teeth and getting in pajamas by 6:30. Bed by 7:30. If it went later…  [Read More]

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