another desperate attempt at face saving by the hollyweirds. Good luck with that. Kids don't forget...ever.

I believe he'll "quit acting" like I believe he'll move to Canada if Bush is re-elected (his last public promise).

I just wish he would stop groveling. The man didn't beat the kid, he called her a pig. So what? What parent hasn't insulted their children at some point?

You're kidding, right? Even in my biggest fits of anger, I have NEVER ripped into either of my daughters like that. You can actually call that voice mail a mere "insult?" And verbal abuse doesn't count, I see. Just physical bruises.

Wiccantexan I stand amazed. There are obviously some parents in this world who don't verbally insult their kids and you are quite obviously one of them. Your children are incredibly lucky. I've never met a parent like you before. From my perch on my slice of the pie of life, the term 'pig' sounds almost like a term of endearment. I still don't understand the gravity of the impact of that word. Rationally she knows she not an actual pigt. Now, to me, if he had said she was stupid, ugly, unloved and unwanted, that constitutes abuse. But then, maybe I'm just splitting hairs.

We each have different circumstances in life. In mine, one's children should be whom we are MOST nurturing to, even in our moments of greatest frustration.

Now, nobody said I didn't hurt their feelings sometimes. I'm far from perfect on that. However, there is a vast difference IMHO between a moment of stupid and the vicious tirade Alec spewed. I have had many moments of stupid with my daughters (ages 24 & 11, BTW). But telling your child they are a "pig" is a direct correlation, in my eyes, to creating feelings of being unloved and unwanted.