Just a bit of back story: I've always viewed my dad as an asshole, stereotypical Stoic American-Sicilian (American comes first since we live here, and my family has fought/died for this country) leader of the household, you guy get the point...

Now don't get me wrong, I've always respected him greatly, not just because as an Italian american I was indoctrinated with Catholic views of always respecting ones parents, but because he was a good dad; he'd go to the majority of my football games from Jr high to highschool, and show up to practice once in a while when he could. He would make me do yard work, and teach me a lot of proper construction (he is a licensed contractor, again stereotypical, though he has a wonderful government project manager job now.) He taught me right from wrong and was never afraid to smack me upside the head when I did something wrong, no beatings, just a firm "don't do that"... Good dad.

But at the same time his viewpoint's never matched the "societal norms" that I was exposed to by the media and friends etc. . I remember as my parents drove me to a little league football game and he told me "don't be a pussy out there!", he always had me working some kind of construction on the weekends while all my friends were relaxing and having fun, he would go on and on about how the wife in Everybody loves Raymond was a complete bitch, he would tell me not to hang out with people that he deemed lazy etc.... Stuff that society told me was wrong!

Fast forward to highschool, I get in a serious relationship with a cute Italian girl, similarish background, we end up going steady. All is well and I meet her parents; her mom is obese easily 300 lbs and no taller than 5'5" while her dad is a quiet engineer and skinny as a twig, supporting the family, but treated like shit by all the family members... Whatever I think, everyone is different its all good... Then a little later my gf at the time starts telling me what I can and cannot do, who I can and cannot hang out with, I was young and thought "whatever... Long as she's happy, its good" so I'd do my own shit behind her back, not cheating but hanging out with my friends etc. She finds out here and there and eventually she has me following her rules. Until one day 2 years later we were about to go on a trip and she cancels last minute because she thought that "I only wanted to go on the trip so we could fool around" this is a kink in my plans but whatever I end up inviting a close friend and his gf and head off on a trip that was already planed. She called me up while I was around my buddy and his gf and started bitching at me... At that point i was completely whipped, but I don't do public displays of emotion: affection, arguments, anything personal should remain in private in my opinion, so I tell her I'm in front of my friends and I gotta go. She keeps calling... long story short I break up with her over the phone, not my best moment but even though I gave up so much for her by that point I had my breaking point.

I followed my personal logic: in that the best way to get over something is to get under someone.... I did my thing, dated models and actresses, it was fun... But I realized something during this time.... The different women I was seeing were FAKE, and they were just looking out for themselves... And I don't put up with that shit!

This all happened years ago... I eventually settled down with a wonderful woman who respects me completely, and whom I respect. My dad passed away a few months ago, and after visiting this sub I realized how lucky I was to have a father who taught me that self respect is more important than any woman... I would have never imagined saying this before, but I am truly proud to be my Father's son.