Thank you for the invite Stephan.
I too was raised an only child and my father was an Alcoholic. My parents separated just as I was to enter into 6th grade, my first year of Jr. High School.
That was also a turning point in my life. My dad was a Military man, being sent to Military School for his High School years and then entering into the Military when he was of legal age to do so (He could have been drafted in) I can't remember his story right off hand.

My dad raised me as (what I call) a Military Step Child. He was tough on me! He had absolutely NO toleration for any kind of BULLSHIT. I never learned how to manipulate my parents, like most children. I never had the opportunity to blame a brother or sister for any mistakes I made.
When my parents divorced, OH BOY, I felt as if I was finally FREE! I could now do as I pleased, and I did just that! I still do to this day!

I'm thankful for the upbringing I learned in my first 12 years of life though (NOW, I didn't like it much back then) but being raised strictly by my father shaped my life, My integrity for the most part.