13 Comments
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Susan Landers, MD's avatar

My mom was an elementary school librarian. She taught thousands of children. She brought home books for me to read. She rarely hugged me and never told me she loved me, until my sister died at age 52. She watched my father scream at me and my sister, hit us both, and pull my hair. Sometimes our mothers cannot show us love for reasons that we will never understand. So, it takes us a long time to discover that we are, in fact, lovable.

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Judith Hannah Weiss's avatar

Thank you for your note. Deep bow.

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Veronika Bond's avatar

"My mom had thousands of kids, but I wasn't one of them." Hearbreaking and so relatable — unfortunately...

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Judith Hannah Weiss's avatar

Thank you for reading and for your comment.

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Sharon Nolfi's avatar

Heartbreaking. I'm sending you comfort and understanding.

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Sheila's avatar

How reminiscent .. 'Cept my mother never left the house .. Never cared for us kids .. She was physically present .. Mais, neither emotionally nor mentally .. It was hurtful at the time .. As an adolescent I began to understand. She was extremely broken .. Mais, understanding and accepting are two different things! I closed my heart (to her) at seven and left her house at seventeen!!! The cycle of broken!! For some it inspires, for others it cripples !! We choose!

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Jim Cox's avatar

If life gives us a lemon, we can throw the thing out, or we can make lemonade.

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Sheila's avatar

And, as I like to say … grow where you are planted, then sprout wings and fly !!

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Jim Cox's avatar

Good comment!

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Sheila's avatar

😊🙋

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Erik Lokensgard's avatar

It sounds like she was/is a good person, but also that doesn’t change that it hurt missing so much of her. And she missed much of you too, most likely. You write well.

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Jodi Sh. Doff's avatar

This broke my heart and I understand it completely.

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Susan OBrien's avatar

Fantastic!!! One of your best and that’s a high bar to clear.

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