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I accept it but I am not sure I understand

While discussing my life, someone asked me, "well what would you have wanted your childhood to be?"

Parents, mostly. A mom and a dad, in love and married, taking care of their kids together.

Of course I had parents. But, my dad abused my mom verbally and physically. They divorced when I was about 7.

The person who asked me the question has both parents. Very traditional. Her parents are now retired and go to Florida for a few months at a time. A whole home. A place to go to for the holidays.

My original home was sold. There is no "home" to go back to, even if I wanted to. My parents are now dead. Dad died at 49 when I was 11 (year 2000), from heart/liver failure from drinking. Mom died from serous (not "serious", but serous) uterine cancer at 68 (year 2024, I was 36). I "found" both of their bodies. Dad was a surprise but my mom was at my apt doing hospice so...yeah, one day she was just..deceased, in the living room.

It was so...funny, odd, interesting...for this person to ask me what life I would have preferred.

A life with parents. A life with a home I could go back to if I struggled.

My life is so different from this person. My life (unchecked) is screaming and aching and....meanwhile, this other person is upset when her parents argue.

I feel so disconnected.

I feel so.... drained. Different.

I just can't relate to people.

I can't relate.

Then they say I look or seem "better".

I don't feel better.

I feel different.

They wonder why I "isolate".

Because of the pain.

You couldn't know the pain until it happens.

You don't know the pain until you have found your parents bodies.

During hospice, my mom stayed in my apartment. She would vomit hot brown bowel liquid over my arms while I tried to soak it up with towels.

I just can't relate to the traditionally safe life of an average person who still has parents that are still married and retired living it up in Florida on the beach.

My heart hurts every day. Every f*cking day. Knowing my mom never felt peace before she died.

Because not only was she sick, but she had an addict daughter, took care of her grandchild, and just....she did everything. She was an angel.

The only solace I feel is knowing she is at peace now.

I had a dream where we hugged and she said she was ok. Back in 2000 I had a similar dream where my dad said he was ok.

That is all I can ask for. I just wish they had found peace during their physical lives on Earth.

I wish my mom had known peace before she died. She was an angel. She deserved it.

And it never happened.

It haunts me.

I would have given my mom my life if it would have meant she lived longer.

She deserved life more than me. More than mine.
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MissNoahLenFoxx · 31-35, F
I too grew up unconventionally. Something that I found comforting was actually sharing my story to people, including strangers; anyone who listened. Journaling thoughts and writing on this website over the years has helped me a lot. Over the years, with the vulnerability of sharing, I too have heard people’s personal stories about growing up. Their stories are not less or more, they just are. But each story is personal. I have found more people than not have had unconventional childhoods too. It’s nice to know my time in my youth ( and maybe yours) isn’t totally off the charts for “reality”. It’s just different than some peoples experiences.

Stories end. New ones begin. At some point or another, in adulthood, we all face life similarly and alone, despite our childhood. Your story is not over yet. Keep going. You’ve proven yourself to be Resilient. You can be Resilient forever more. You’ve proven to yourself to being able to handle Discomfort. You can handle Discomfort again, and you can get yourself through it till you get settled again. The journey is not linear and you have all the tools you need for a wonderful future; yourself. Your experience is an advantage.It’s true. Your story is not over yet. You have more chapters! And I know they will be super!

P.S. —- Allow yourself to heal. Healing does not diminish what you’ve gone through. Bc what you have gone through is “the story.” Your heart needs space for new Feelings, let it heal. It won’t happen over night but allow it. Feelings are your pallet and the Future is your canvas. You can “paint” your way to brighter colors. Also as you “paint” through each day, remember you’re “painting with”….

You are not Alone. 💖