Don't get me wrong, I don't believe in necessarily "staying together for the kids" -- and I actually believe it's quite healthy for children to be able to see that their parents can disagree and fight yet still love each other and be able to live together. My wife's grandparents used to always go to a private room away from the kids when they needed to fight; I think that can send the wrong message: that conflict in a marriage is to be avoided at all costs.

What I'm talking about is something much different. I'm talking about overtly attacking and running down your spouse to your children. "Your father is such an asshole, he's good for nothing, he doesn't love me like he should, he never cares about what I want," etc. etc. etc., ad nauseum. I used to hear that shit from my mother every single day (and I still would had I not stood my ground and ordered her to shut up). THAT is what I think is so damaging -- giving your children a one-sided, negative view of their other parent. Let your child make up his own mind and keep your negative opinions to yourself. Let your child grow up to love his parents, because bitterness against parents is so damaging and can last a lifetime. I still struggle with it against my father, and I KNOW that most of the stuff I was fed was half-truths and outright lies.

I just realized that I'm essentially running my parents down behind their backs -- in a public venue no less -- which makes me no better than they. I'll shut up now.

Nonstop.....don't feel that way.
Your words here just might "wake up" someone to what they are doing, and make them stop damaging their children.
You have shown in your own life situation what damage it can do to a child, and if even ONE person reads your comments and stops what they are doing, or thinking of doing, you have done a GREAT thing.
I don't have any children......one of the things i regret the most. I think i would have made a GREAT Dad.
And i was lucky.......my parents NEVER argued in front of us kids. But i have seen the damage that kids that were not as lucky as me have had to endure.

Agreed.

That ***** pissed me off.

Great read, Jim. I was a big fan of Eddie Lee Ivory, and he had a lot of potential but our OL at the time sucked. He and Dickey used to get banged around a lot more than they should have.

So you actually saw the 52-3 NO game. Nice. Would have loved to have been there. That showed the world that despite being 1-3, we were a good football team. Then it was just one injury after another. Urgh. Such a painful year.

Prime rib? Definitely one of my faves as well.

Well, now you know, next time pee in a bottle.