@lightwardinc asked me to write about writing about family. Check the link in their bio if you too have struggled with saying true hard things, not saying them at all, or blowing everything to hell.
instagram.com@lightwardinc asked me to write about writing about family. Check the link in their bio if you too have struggled with saying true hard things, not saying them at all, or blowing everything to hell.
Remember that you own what happened to you. If your childhood was less than ideal, you may have been raised thinking that if you told the truth about what really went on in your family, a long bony white finger would emerge from a cloud and point at you, while a chilling voice thundered, “We told you not to tell.” But that was then. Just put down
... See moreAnne Lamott • Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Parents, children, teachers, clergy, and friends add to the mix, helping to determine what is allowed to be expressed and what is not. For some families, emotional vulnerability and crying are encouraged; for others, they are banished into shadow. For some families, anger and conflict are tolerated; for others, they are the worst taboo. For some
... See moreSteven Wolf • Romancing the Shadow
Childhood wounding does not always take a physical form. Our society typically recognizes the horror of physical child neglect, but not the emotional pain that comes from inadequate or deficient parenting. Psychological damage can happen in all sorts of subtle and invisible ways, from a caregiver’s lack of awareness, subtle put-downs, neglect, and
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