It got worse. Then she died when I was 16. She had a horrible life. She is one of the reasons I love the Lord so much. He stepped in more times than I can count to help me. He's still doing clean ups on aisle seven, aisle nine, etc. ;-)
As for the 'clean-up,' He keeps doing that for ALL of us, no matter how comfortable our lives have been. That old nature doesn't let go easily....
Gretchen, stories like yours amaze me at what the Lord can do in a person's life. Many have gone through what you have and then became bitter and ended up treating their kids the way they were treated. The love and concern you show to your neighbor children show how much the Lord has healed your heart.