Yeah, I’ve replied this a couple times, but the relationship with the mom in interesting and I don’t understand her at all. The dad’s stories have some balance between him trying to be a good dad and completely screwing things up. The good moments seem genuinely caring or at worst like he’s trying to make up for the bad bits. The moms interactions seem emotionally stunted without a scrap of nurturing in them. When the dad was going through alcohol withdrawal, I dont think there was any comfort from the mom at all. All of the “good” moments with the mom also seem a bit self serving. Even celebrating Christmas on Christmas was more for her than for the kids.

I wonder if the way she is portrayed is most indicative of the author’s relationship with her mom or her moms true self. Probably both.