In her great article, Sandi Squicquero defines it as "a family that experiences trauma and pain from a parent’s actions, words and attitudes." Well said. Most of us from dysfunctional families know we are different, and hide it from others from shame, embarrassment, or worse, fear of retribution from our parents. And because we hide our abnormal family life from others, we think we are the only ones going through such trauma.
That's where reading memoirs and even fictional stories of such families help us come out of hiding and share our stories... tentatively at first...afraid as we are of revealing our secret shame, as if it were somehow our faults instead of the fault of the parents in the room. Reading others' stories helps us accept that our experience is...normal, or more normal than we think, and gives us the courage and mental wherewithal to look for help. It is to this end that I wrote my story down- to inspire others to go for help- to talk about it- to find a network of people who do believe you and support you as you are- scars and all. To show that it is possible to heal.
My book, Redeemed, A Memoir of a Stolen Childhood will be published June 25, 2024.
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