Maybe it was because I was just something she had to do, like because of the day and age she lived in, or because she was Catholic, or because nobody she had ever heard of had just one kid, so another one was supposed to come along. I do know that she felt she had to have another kid and it was planned at a drawing board so it was convenient for everyone.
She was pretty, much more pretty than the average bear I am led to believe, but a child can never have an unbiased viewpoint about that. I think she thought I was ugly. I look at pictures of me at every age, and I think I was the cutest thing. I would die to have had a little curly headed redhead girl. Instead she got her. I only remember being teased about some really major times in my life, like getting a figure. And God made that shit up to me. He gave me a great figure. I feel like God knew what was going on and tried to lend a helping hand. But now I am shaken in my belief.
My mom died a few years ago and one of my brothers cannot get over it. He idolizes her. I only remember the embarrassment she caused me, singling me out for jokes in front of company, drinking until she was staggering and slurring, caring about "care" in so far only as it applied to my father. I feel like she was never herself. I feel like I was always myself. I feel/still feel like I had to be---that I was all I had to cling to. And it is only me that is holding me together, keeping me standing right now.
My mother left me with two horrible unsolvable problems. No matter how strong I feel or how strong I am, I cannot solve these problems. I can only stand here like a dessicated sponge soaking up pain from these two problems, every day, every minute of my life. That's all I can do in my life---while I have life.
I feel strongly about karma, and as a joke, I say, what ever it was that I did to deserve this, I hope I enjoyed it. But I cannot imagine. I do not believe I have ever hurt anyone as much as these two things are hurting me. And I cannot see that, under any circumstances or imagined scenario that I will learn or become stronger from this. I feel like it is chipping away at my heart bit by bit with an extremely dull and cold chisel. I know it is impossible for me to ever know the outcome or the possible rewards for living through this in my lifetime, if ever.
I ask her, probably daily, why she did this to me. Not that it doesn't impact other people. It does. And others are being terribly hurt, but it still seems like I am the focus. And it is an absolute truth that both things things have been placed here by her. I don't get it. There is no lesson embedded in this. It is just pain, pointless, unnecessary pain. I hope that is not the legacy that I leave behind me.
I receive professional advice , psychoactive meds, and counsel from wise and loving people whose views I value greatly and admire, but all I ever walk away with is that I have to make peace with the situation. I can't. I refuse to. If I had a large rusty nail sticking out of my forehead I would not endeavor to ignore the discomfort, nor would I ask people to ignore the fact that a large rusty nail is sticking out of my forehead because I am being so fucking brave about it that they shouldn't call attention to it. They should pretend it is not there. Because I am working so hard to pretend it is not there. No. Pull the fucking nail out for Christ's sake.
I'm sorry. I don't know what it is, but I do pray that you can find some sort of peace with it.
ReplyDeleteMy wife has some similar issues with her mother. Not nearly as bad as what you describe, but similar. Her mom doted on her younger brother, and even though he's the family fuckup, he still gets the lion's share of her attention and praise. Part of her horrible self esteem comes from her mom's own body image issues being projected on her daughter and shitty advice about trying to change yourself to please other people. And then there's all the fighting that happened just b/c they're both stubborn asses.
I get the feeling that a lot of women have similar issues with their mothers. I'm a guy though, so I don't know dick. But I do know that our parents fuck us up. It's just some get more of it than others. And that's a pretty heavy burden for me to shoulder when I look at my little boy. That's a lot of responsibility.
Virginia there is no rusty nail. There is a situation so bad that if you don't learn to come to terms with the fact that you can't change it, you may destroy yourself and all the good work you've done on your own esteem. Your mother is no longer here, she can no longer say hurtful things but neither can she tell why she did what she did to you so all you can do is dismiss it, allow it to hurt you more, or say ENOUGH, and get on with your life having the knowledge that you know yourself and that your families image of you is not tainted by her.
ReplyDeleteYou are your own person, not hers and you have a high value. It's her loss she didn't recognise it enough.
Hugs
Powerful stuff here. I'm dying to know the two things. And look at that beautiful little girl. My god, how could you not love that little face.
ReplyDeleteWell, thegirlinthehat said it best. My curiosity is piqued as well.
ReplyDeleteYou are an extraordinary writer. I know this because I've read your work. But, one thing remains true: there are many people in this world who should never have been parents. There's a whole generation or two of those out there. I only came to the realization that this was true when I became one myself and began reflecting back upon a childhood that wasn't always easy or wonderful. Love shouldn't be that hard to give or based upon conditions; should it? So. Channel your pain into your stories. Keep writing because you're good enough, sweetie. xo KO