The usual Open Thread rules apply: be concise, be charitable and, above all, be amusing.
Open Thread
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
Jack Smith resigned from the Justice Department. The *attempted* manslaughter didn’t work out like he had planned.
He won’t suffer. He’ll go on as an equity partner in some big Law Firm. Like many other things in this Vale of Tears, Justice is beyond the grave.
This is apropos;
“Deranged Jack Smith was fired today by the DOJ. He is a disgrace to himself, his family, and his Country. After spending over $100,000,000 on the Witch Hunt against TRUMP, he left town empty handed!” Trump wrote.
I cannot imagine Congress would ever get off its tuchus to attempt to repair the travesty which is federal criminal justice (which only injures Democrats when they do really crude things like keep a chest freezer full of bribe money in their basement).
Very good Florida swamp music:
One Crow Murder
My nearly 17 year old son has had mental problems. In the past year he has stolen my money, used my credit cards without permission, started countless arguments, destroyed countless items of my property, including doors, multiple phones, an X Box, a monitor, multiple fans. I have had a black eye, a dislocated finger and been thrown to the ground on three occasions. He refuses to do his schoolwork.
He was picked on harshly in school but never told me about it. He saw hazing going on when he played freshman football. Several years ago an older boy put his hands on my son when coming home from school. My son has had braces for years, is irate at the orthodontist, and demands porcelain veneers to address his teeth, which are too small.
He went to a psychiatric hospital for a week starting two days before New Year’s. He is very unhappy with where we live. He asked his grandmother to stay with her but she said no. She is 84 and lives in Ohio
My son’s response was to trash the house. He tore apart my Dirt Devil, destroyed his bedroom door, put a hole in a hallway wall, broke a chair and threw garbage around the house. This caused his mother and me to have him admitted.
He has quit going to church. He burned a beautiful crucifix that hung on his wall..we got it for him when he was a little boy. He has cut himself and dabbled in satanism, all to get what he wants.
I cannot give him all he demands. I will not sell my house and move to another state. I cannot afford private school tuition. My wife has always refused to get a job, even part time.
I am faced with a bill for the deductible and copay for his admission…thanx, Obamacare. A dental clinic in Monterey, Mexico can administer treatment for a fraction of the cost here, but it is still a few thousand. I am paying off debt he ran up and I may not be able to pay for my youngest son’s hockey later this year if I can’t get a part time job…I have applied for two part time jobs, was turned down for one at Lowe’s and heard nothing back from BJs.
On top of that, my best friend took a job with Kroger in Columbus. He is getting a divorce, and selling his house in the area. He already bought a house three hours away in the Columbus area We have got together to watch football and hockey for decades and while we have been friends for 35 years and his moving won’t change that…I have been friends with him when we lived 20 minutes apart and over 6 hours apart…it’s going to be different when next football season comes around
This past Christmas was one of the lousiest in my life. It included a profanity filled rant by my son directed at my wife. I feel like a failure. I go to Mass but it has been more out of a sense of obligation than anything else.
Penguins Fan – I’m sorry to hear what you are going through. That’s ALOT!
I’m not sure why God allows periods in our life to be that low and heavy. But I urge you to open your heart and speak to God and be honest how you feel- God takes no offense if we are honest.
I believe the most powerful ally you can have at the moment is Mary. I urge you to say the Rosary daily, or atleast weekly, even if you don’t feel like it or even believe it. Satan is attacking you and your family. Cling to Mary!
Also, for whatever reason, your wife should work to help you in your financial struggles. It’s her obligation at this time. Maybe someone can remind her…
As for your son, I hope you can have him psychiatrically assessed. In addition, see if you can get the help of a good priest who knows about possession and diabolical attacks. There is something spiritually demonic going on with your son perhaps…
You can’t do this alone and it won’t solve itself giving into your families wishes to make them “happy”. That will be a temporary fix.
I will pray for you also. Remember cling to Our Lady.
All I can say is pray to St Dymphna – daily. First thing. Every day.
My daughter has troubles with extreme anxiety and has turned my house upside down emotionally and physically several times.
It. Has. Helped. Thanks be to God!
It’s not how I want it to be, but it’s livable.
One thing I’ve learned about the Enemy is he kicks you hardest just before the storm abates for a while. Like it says on the gunner’s knuckles in Master & Commander, “HOLD FAST”
I know you’re Western PA. Stopped for a Mass at St Anthony’s in Harrisville off I80 on my final visit to my Dad. Encountered a good priest and a good Mass in a place I never planned to stop. Take it for what it’s worth.
Tough it out PF until your son turns 18 PF, and then throw him out and get an order of protection against him if you have to. He sounds like he is a threat to you and your wife. You have done what you can for him and there comes a point when nothing more can be done for someone intent on self destruction. Next time he commits a criminal offense against you or your wife call the cops. It sounds like he needs to be in foster care or a juvenile facility. You might wish to consult an attorney.
It sounds like he needs to be in foster care or a juvenile facility. You might wish to consult an attorney.
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My regrets, but it sounds like he belongs in prison.
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I will not sell my house and move to another state.
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If you can find satisfactory work elsewhere, that might be an option to consider.
To all..thank you for your prayers and suggestions and support.
I have had my son evaluated by psychiatrists. He has a number of disorders but he has the right to refuse treatment. It’s the law in PA
I have consulted my attorney cousin who suggested the process we got him into the psych ward. I called him again but he is apparently wrapped up with a big case.
Art…I have less than eight years to pay off my house. I’m 61. My mom is 84 and is two hours away. I have an additional lot I can put a house on and sell…after I retire. Mom has had two heart attacks. I am the executor when the time comes and there will be a house to sell. I can’t pack up and go and leave behind the few family members who have been supportive.
Penguins Fan, you and your family will be in my rosary tonight.
Penguins Fan.
Your intentions will be my evening petition.
Never despair and even though you don’t feel it, Our Queen of Peace is accompanying you each and every step of the way. She is with you.
Keep trusting in God.
Please try to break it down into 10 minute increments. Lord, grant our home some peace as this tempest attempts to swamp our boat. Jesus, calm this storm. We fear nothing knowing that you will make a way where there doesn’t seem to be a way. May our confidence in you grow stronger as the night gives way to dawn. Light is coming. Resources from the Treasury of Grace will turn your sorrows into Joy as you get through this, 10 minutes at a time.
When we might feel as though we have been abandoned by God are truly the times that He is the closest to us.
Keep trusting in Him.
The Peace of Christ be yours.
PF, you are in my prayers. I find contemplating the Holy Face of Christ to be very consoling. If you can’t pray, ‘simply’ resting your eyes on any of the multitudes of Catholic art can be prayer. My parents were both alcoholics. I hear your despair. There are “spin off ” groups similar to AA that are free and may provide some support for you.
Oremus pro Penguins Fan:
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
🙁
Again, thank you all.
I’m not familiar with the granular features of your situation.
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I’ve had some experience with family members given to persistent misbehavior. One pulled out of it after about 12 years, one never did and drank herself to death (her paternal grandparents having done the same), and one was still a social problem at age 46. No clue what he’s done in the years since his last tour in prison. (His brother apparently drank himself to death but stayed out of prison).
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I’ve also had occasion to observe the mental health trade in action and have tradesmen among my proximate relations. The diagnostic categories in their manuals are to assist them in executing their protocols. They don’t help you and I wouldn’t wager they help the subject, either. I’ve seen people in crisis helped for a time by a change of scene and some well-targeted medication regimens. The thing is, they were helpful for someone who (1) had a good heart and (2) many skills to earn a living and a considerable work history. The fellow who pulled out of it was a sweet kid who took a detour into deep unpleasantness around age 12; peer problems were an issue in his life. His parents were fixing to put him out on the curb at age 18 but did not have to as he left without a word on his 18th birthday.
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The mother of the drunk I referred to above (who also used street drugs, had a wretched work history, had a history of sexual misconduct, and bore two ba*tard children) was given to ineffectual dithering, consulting with mental health tradesmen (some of whom were manifest fools), and sporadically undermining the efforts of other family members to rein in her dipso daughter. Maybe if she’d taken a different course of action, results would have been better. And maybe not. Her daughter blithely motored through all manner of stop signs the larger society erected.
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You only see the downsides of the course of action you take, and you never do know for sure what was decisive or what was not.
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You’ve got other people to look after and you have to ask yourself how long you’re willing to allow him to distort and disfigure your family life. If you have to make yourself difficult to locate, you should consider that.