Thanks Fred. Sorry about the passing of your father. It's unfortunate that Reagan's ineptitude has finally come home to roost. We allowed the dishonest actors to sing his praises for decades. That's our shame I guess (or part of it).
Your writing is a welcome companion as I try to heal from the demons of my past. I pray for both of us, and the world right now. There is light at the end of the tunnel despite its incredible length
This post really spoke to me, I grew up with emotionally neglectful, authoritarian parents and I am glad you came to grips with it at such a young age. I did not, and struggled all my life with anger and depression. It wasn’t until my dad died when I was 56 that I began the journey of healing and became the artist I always wanted to be. He neglected us in life, and neglected us in death.
The current situation in our country as well as the first term of the Orange Pendejo have been full of triggers for me. I think our country is full of abused and neglected people who think his behavior is okay, even normal, and acquiesce to the gaslighting and retribution. I hope to be able to leave this country when we retire, in a few years, if we still have the resources to do it. If everything isn’t destroyed by then.
That's the million dollar question. I should explore that more. I guess when it's indoctrinated into your identity, it's hard to break away from. Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
In many ways, my childhood seemed idyllic. We took a vacation every summer, usually at the Jersey shore. At first I did not recognize Dad's alcoholism. It eventually killed him. He never met any of his grandchildren. It's actually rather sad....
Boundaries are hard to set but it's impossible to live a real and true life without them.
Yup, and they must also be enforced which is arguably as hard as setting them. :)
Well written. I was fortunate to grow up in a family not nearly so authoritarian as your experience.
My father had the good fortune to die before Trump was on the radar, but he saw where Reagan was taking us. Fred
Thanks Fred. Sorry about the passing of your father. It's unfortunate that Reagan's ineptitude has finally come home to roost. We allowed the dishonest actors to sing his praises for decades. That's our shame I guess (or part of it).
Your writing is a welcome companion as I try to heal from the demons of my past. I pray for both of us, and the world right now. There is light at the end of the tunnel despite its incredible length
Good for you! You achieved much since that abuse. Thanks for the honesty. Now we need to get rid of the ultimate abusers: Trump and his toads.
This post really spoke to me, I grew up with emotionally neglectful, authoritarian parents and I am glad you came to grips with it at such a young age. I did not, and struggled all my life with anger and depression. It wasn’t until my dad died when I was 56 that I began the journey of healing and became the artist I always wanted to be. He neglected us in life, and neglected us in death.
The current situation in our country as well as the first term of the Orange Pendejo have been full of triggers for me. I think our country is full of abused and neglected people who think his behavior is okay, even normal, and acquiesce to the gaslighting and retribution. I hope to be able to leave this country when we retire, in a few years, if we still have the resources to do it. If everything isn’t destroyed by then.
What a painful childhood to live through. I’m glad you were able to understand that you are worth so much more than your dad thought.
Why is it that so many people aren’t able to see the gaslighting/abuse and break away?
That's the million dollar question. I should explore that more. I guess when it's indoctrinated into your identity, it's hard to break away from. Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
My dad was similar in some ways. The first time I stood up to him I was 50.
In many ways, my childhood seemed idyllic. We took a vacation every summer, usually at the Jersey shore. At first I did not recognize Dad's alcoholism. It eventually killed him. He never met any of his grandchildren. It's actually rather sad....
Yep. These are malignant narcissist, with or without the Y chromosome. We must free ourselves from their Imagined "right" to reign.