This is an accounting of the life my siblings and I endured at the loving hands of our alcoholic mother. We descended from being a very typical, middle class 1950s family to living in poverty as our mother's alcoholism overpowered her and profoundly affected us. The book is divided into developmental stages that are normally distinguished by some rite of passage. After each section, I review the compounding damage as we progressed through our childhood. Our mother's actions impacted our family life and our position in the community. My primary purpose is to help others similarly harmed, to validate what happened to them, and begin to understand their feelings. I hope so very much that I can positively influence alcoholics to understand, accept, and seek assistance to help their families.