Speaking as a Mom, I would never fault my kids for protecting themselves from an abuser, even if I weren't able to protect them from him. I would not be crushed. I would be glad that they found the freedom and strength that I couldn't. Anyone who isn't is sort of an abuser as well for emotionally manipulating them to allow themselves to continue to be mistreated so I'm not the only one suffering.

You're still talking about YOUR situation, which is irrelevant here. Here's a different situation for you. A friend of mine ended up dead because she didn't cut an abuser out of her life, and he was not even violent to her or physically abusive, just extremely controlling and verbal/emotionally abusive until he was and he decided to kill her. It's really irresponsible to tell someone they should stay in someone's life when you have no idea what the situation is. It doesn't sound to me like a "minor inconvenience" it sounds to me like she has an abusive relationship with her father. She could literally end up dead. Your comments are irresponsible.

Called mom to tell her about my grandma's recent fall. She quickly changes the subject to the Afghanistan situation, cries, cusses at me, flips me off because I voted for Biden. I kept calm because I knew for a fact she was drunk, I didn't tell her about the 5,000 Taliban soldiers released last year or the deals that were made under the former administration because she wasn't in the head space to even listen. "Call me when you're sober and calm." She hangs up on me and is now on FB giving a tirade and putting up "Bring back Trump" posts. She keeps sending me emotional tiktoks. Maybe it's time to distance myself from the circus.

He asked to talk on the phone at around noon, I agreed then didn't hear back for about 8pm. I assumed it wasn't going to happen and think a part of me was okay and wanted to be disappointment so that I wouldn't still be emotionally invested. And, I've felt disappointment by guys in the past so know this well. H's a man of his words and we had a wonderful, lovely, laugher-filled 1-hr call with some deep moments. I even had a breakthrough during the call about how I handle my trauma response when it comes to fawning. This guy is leaving me speechless

I feel like this but with emotional neglect. I feel like they taught me nothing and I never felt like I could open up to them...there was basically nothing emotional from them, but they would use their own emotion as basically a guilt tactic to get us to behave. It's like those people who adopt dogs and then don't consistently train or exercise the dog so wonder why they end up with a nightmare dog. It feels like my parents had kids because that's just what you do, and they expected us to just turn out perfect with no emotional support or understanding, no shoulder to cry on or anything. I just feel adrift without a life raft. I think there's lots of abuse that doesn't resemble "typical" abuse.

Has anyone struggled when thinking through their childhood to figure out if you had an abusive parent or not? Not physically, but mentally and emotionally. Part of me thinks if I have to ask myself that question, it's probably abuse. The other part just thinks I'm exaggerating, but I know a lot of victims tend to think that way because they are gaslit.

Teacher Life pt 1- Spent four hours Saturday designing a badly needed professional development for my colleagues about Special Education, at my Admin's request. Admin promised me 90 minutes. Looked at the weekly schedule and I am sharing the time with Counseling Services. He did not inform me. Just changed the schedule. I planned 90 minutes of information and activities, and all of it is important. Just shows that when push comes to shove, special education students and students with social/emotional challenges get the short end of the stick. What did he plan for three afternoons this week instead of dedicating one afternoon each for Special Education and Counseling Services? Three days of "Professional Learning Community Planning Time" WITH NO PLAN FOR HOW SPECIAL EDUCATION OR COUNSELING IS INTEGRATED INTO THAT.

How do you approach your SO about divorce? I am nonconfrontational by nature. I will literally sacrifice everything I am to not have to fight with people. But I can't do this anymore. I've done it for too long. I'm always picking up the slack, cleaning up the messes he leaves behind physically and emotionally. He's had years to figure out how to parent and he still goes NUTS when things don't go his way. I'm tired of fixing everything. I know I'm horrid for even putting all of us through this for so long. How do I get out?

We get into these waves of rapid texts then it's dead air while I feel anxious waiting for the reply. I guess that's better than texting all day long. I'm getting too emotionally attached and it doesn't feel good. To me, taking space means not responding to his texts immediately (perhaps even waiting a day or two), and not attending his live shows everyday. I will start to wean off because I still need this break.

Man, I'm quite bummed we never got to work together, D! We easily clicked since we have strong emotional intelligence and felt like I was talking to an old friend. Especially if you're seriously considering applying for a job at my former workplace, I feel called to to tell you potentially what you're getting yourself into. You ended the call by saying that we hyped each other up which totally happened. That seems natural for me to do with others and I'm impressed, but not surprised how soon you picked up on that! Do you have a #hypebuddy? We all need one in our lives! If you need one, please let me know. :)