Papa Baldwin

So I heard the infamous voicemail an enraged Alec Baldwin left his 11 year old daughter when she didn't have her phone on for their weekly scheduled call. He really does come off like an insufferable, bullying ass here, and it's probably not a big stretch to conjecture he's a hard guy to live with. Certainly this is isn't an acceptable way to speak to your kids, even if you're disappointed and no doubt hurt by their behavior. Hopefully he apologized to her and they're working it out, because I'm sure he doesn't want to have her even less a part of his life. I feel for the guy, actually. Not excusing his behavior but I just know it's a very difficult thing, being separated from your children, even if you see them half the week or whatever. It's nice on those days I don't have them not to have to worry about getting somewhere at a certain time or figuring out food for them, sure, but there are plenty of these off-days where I just want to see them and talk to them and find out how their days were. It's just a tough deal for anybody. It's too bad the voicemail was leaked, as it can't help hurting everyone involved, and it presents Baldwin at his worst. I just saw him on Letterman a week or so ago telling a charming anecdote about his daughter. We all say things to our kids we regret, and I hope he's making amends for it. The interesting thing is the media really latched onto the "rude, thoughtless little pig" comment as if that was the lowlight, but to be honest, I don't think that's objectionable. Nor do I think it's wrong to make your kids feel guilty, if indeed they deserve to feel guilty. After a nice Easter weekend visit from my parents, my kids didn't even react when they said goodbye, my son walking over to the trash to throw out a candy wrapper from his Easter basket. I knew they love their grandparents and probably just couldn't fully process that they wouldn't see them for many months, but still, I was furious as I rushed both of them down the stairs to try to catch up and say a proper goodbye. Kids piss you off, often. But it's the whole crazed, vicious tone of the thing that's so wrong.