childhood

Join the Conversation on
childhood
1.3K people
0 stories
152 posts
Explore Our Newsletters
What's New in childhood
All
Stories
Posts
Videos
Latest
Trending
Post

I Know What To Do! WHY Is It So Hard?

I went cold on a neighbor that moved away last October.. She was unbelievable and so toxic. Everyday she would show up at my house and I felt bad and let her in. Her children, grown, hate her and her husband had moved out of the bedroom almost a decade ago. She is a toxic lier! Telling her entire family she has MS and for 10 years she had everyone fooled she saw a doctor and was medicated. An emergency revealed she lied. The lies were enormous! So I felt bad for her because her husband filed for divorce, but he did catch her cheating when she got caught having sex with her married boss and they both got fired!
Here's my problem, number one, I'm a scapegoat, 2 I'm an empath and my heart is huge but I know I should not be talking with her at all and she just called after a year! She's almost homeless! And I know id never let her move in here but she needs my help. I did her divorce for her in 2022! And neglected myself!! I know I shouldn't answer the phone if she calls again!!! I know my new therapist would be very upset I decided to take 2 calls from her after a year! I'm mad at myself!! Do I answer again and explain again I need to take care of me, my husband and home or do I never answer again? I'm the daughter of a narcissistic mother and the scapegoat of the family. So you know where my heart is always at!! Thanks guys for your help!!! #Toxic #CPTSD #Anxiety #mood disorder #scapegoat #Childhood abuse #Bipolor #Daughter of a narcissistic mother

31 reactions 20 comments
Post

Having a Disability & Summer #Summer #Childhood #Disability #cerebral palsy

As we have entered summer I have found myself thinking of what summer meant for me as child. It meant sleeping in and freedom from school but it also meant only a week or two before it got too hot and my joints started to swell. It meant being incredibley hot in AFOs, trying to chase after my cousins who were running in the backyard. Or when I did finally catch them they were already on to the next destination, where I had to decide do I want to be in pain for the next few days or do I want to have fun now. Usually it just meant playing cards with my mom off to the side waiting for the summer birthday cake to arrive. I’m not saying I hate summer but they aren’t all that when your left watching the other kids. My parents always made sure to adapt things, so I wouldn’t be left out but after a while I learned it was easier to wait. Wait for when summer didn’t mean running around, hours in the pool but instead meant phone calls, travel, walks, and board games for everyone not just me. So, I am thinking about all the young kids with CP who may be feeling left out. If you’re a parent of a kid with a disability who is having similar expirences to what I just described please tell them: I’m sorry it really stinks. I wish thinks were easier but we don’t have to do the same thing as everyone else, we can adapt it or we can make our own summer. summer doesn’t have a rule book no matter what others say. Make summer your own, and in a few years more and more people will join you, settle into your summer instead. Happy summer!

3 reactions
Post
See full photo

My childhood moto.

When I was a child, growing up with disability and parents who tried to mask the disability with pressuring me into rules. No hypertension, no goofy off and no expressing emotions hurt me a lot.

I grew up afraid of making friends, working, and I lost hobbies. Felt alone in world when visiting family or some friends, parents ruled me to take 3 ridailins when in public or near family members. I felt dull and empty inside after taking them. Also high standers rules to follow. If i slipped upped, I was yelled at for simple mistakes...

(My parents got faulse diagnose I have ADHD and little bit of Autism in year i was born tell 2017) Later my inlaw took me in to be retested I leared I have TBI do to birth core history of being revived)

There was soooo many times i wish to not exist, i basically cried alone daily...... I also drew in secert of how I felt(drawings like crying or yelling at myself) ..so I came up with a moto to get me threw the day.

It something i tell others who tell me I am fine, when I know they are not. Not sure if it helps them a bit like me?

#Childhood #Anxiety #Depression #Disability #Hope #TBI #ADHD #Autism

16 reactions 7 comments
Post

Distantly Present

Her voice as a 75-year-old woman is shriveled. Smaller. Crouched on the floor. She says nothing of import. She hears nothing of consequence. She eats. She sleeps. She ambles.

I am aware of her through my niece’s routine—preparing her meals and taking her on walks. I am reminded often that her old age care costs lots of money. But I take these tidbits of news and stack them on a high shelf amongst the tattered memories of childhood I prefer not to peruse too often.

She takes up space in a tiny corner of my mind. It’s small but goddammit, still there. I am grown. I am mostly whole again. I am tethered to this frail time in my life that has ironically made me strong.

My mother hovers over me, a ghosted memory wrapped around a fragile-bodied woman still existing in my family orbit—distant as they are. They are alien—unknown to me but certain in their invasion of my world.

#MothersDay #adultsurvivor #CPTSD #ComplexPTSD #Trauma #Childhood trauma

1 reaction
Post

Your not done

I heard this song today and I have pretty much played it over and over. This is a song for people who feel alone and that are ready to give up. It spoke to my heart and made me realize that I’m not alone

music.apple.com/us/album/youre-not-done/1656915354

#BipolarDisorder #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #Childhood sexual assault #CPTSD

You're Not Done by Leeland & Charity Gayle

Listen to You're Not Done by Leeland & Charity Gayle on Apple Music. 2023. Duration: 6:03
3 reactions 4 comments
Post

Trauma therapy

I’m fixing to head to process my first childhood trauma and I’m scared shitless. I’ve done the homework. Wrote the details of what happened I have the picture of me at that age that the the trauma happpened. I just want this little girl in me to feel safe enough to come forward and tell her story and not to hold back her emotions and feelings. She needs to be heard so we can both heal and finally have peace from the trauma. I can do this. I’ve got the strength and determination to let her be heard. #Childhood trauma #BipolarDisorder #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder #OCD

18 reactions 14 comments
Post

Trust issues #Childhood

Very often during the day I have trouble letting go of Many people who chose to take me for granted after giving my trust can anyone relate?

22 reactions 9 comments
Post

Dear USA

Dear USA,

It’s been many years since I left home, a place I loved and freely roamed.

Born in nineteen sixty-three amidst a war across the sea.

n the south where I grew up, desegregation bloomed like butter cups.

Children from the city known for song were placed on buses and travelled long.

In class three a bus stopped to park at my school, out poured children red, Black, and blue. I was excited to see their faces, unaffected by our different races.

In class three I played daily with Antoine, Joyce, and tiny Bailey.

Their dark brown eyes to this day, warm my heart in a solemn way

Clasped hands white and brown, skipping rope and running `round.

We merrily sang until the school bell rang,

“Ring around the rosies, a pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall down!” All while spinning on the merry-go-round.

Taking turns we felt each other’s hair, our teacher smiled as we sat in our chairs.

Our teacher too was brown and had a baby growing, we all were told as she was showing.

I recall a day while she was on duty, a white boy gave her a gift, two hand knit booties.

Her face lit up for they were hand sewn by his white mother, someone unknown.

“Bussing” humans, the government cited, was a success as we were united

Now I am sixty in a far away land, my country divided like it all began.

Red, Black, and blue a whole other meaning, what happened to us playing and singing?

Society scarred and sour, carelessly handled by no superpower.

I hate you yet long for you, your troubles are mine, too.

I defend you, our people, your resilience, and pride

Yet I am broken as the world watches in stride. Guns, shootings, and Black American’s still, fighting to live without being killed.

How are Antoine, Joyce, and Bailey? Are your babies now men, are they worried daily?

Protest signs, riots are all still there, not in my memory but daily in flares!

As children we huddled in tornado drills, giggled, joked, and made small squeals.

Now although in so called unition school drills are needed against ammunition

At eight with Antoine, Joyce, and Bailey side by side, we never imagined our lives would divide.

I never imagined I’d live across the sea; I wonder if they remember me

As headlines roll in from my home state, peace and love are still a debate

The flag which waves before me is yellow and blue, this country is not perfect, yet better it’s true.

Democracy, hypocrisy, all countries have crisis; I expected my homeland to still be the nicest.

I stand at the shore of the North Sea as tears well up for my Tennessee.

The little girl inside still cares about you, the USA, red, Black, and blue.

Sincerely,

Hope

#blm #Racism #Tennessee #desegregation #Childhood #bussing #Love #Friendship #usa #Discrimination #peace #whitepriviledge #democracy

7 reactions 2 comments
Post

Sharing past traumas with loved ones.

Trigger warning

I finally shared my childhood sexual assault with my mom today. I kept it a secret for so long because my family was threatened they would be killed if I said anything. I’m 46 years old and it took me this long to feel safe enough to tell her. She asked me why it took so long and I told her I was protecting her and I didn’t want her to see the images in her head of what was done to me. I was so scared to tell her all the details but I knew I had to let it out. Part of my story is floating around on the Mighty and I’m thankful for all the positive feedbacks I’ve gotten. I’m one step closer to closing this chapter of the little girl who lost her innocence and is getting strength now to overcome all of my traumas. This was a really big step for me and I’m so glad I have the courage to do it. I looking forward to having complete peace and happiness in my life. We all deserve that. #CPTSD #BipolarDisorder #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #Childhood sexual assault #Anxiety #multiple traumas

11 reactions 3 comments
Post
See full photo

No one talked about it.

No one talked about it. Yanno talk about mental health, any aspect relative to it..

My parents didn't tell me about any of it. They didn't give me any warnings or prepare me for what life could throw my way. They were too caught up on their own messy life struggling with their own mental health, but forgot the ones who relied on them were struggling too.

Adults in my life didn't talk about the reality of how hard life can be, all the emotions you will feel and how to deal with them especially pain (personally the hardest one), the confusing series of events you may go through, or how to even cope with loosing someone you loved.

There was too much left unsaid, not understood, lingering questions with no one to give answers I desperately needed as a child. I had to learn everything the hard way when it never had to be that way, it could've been so different.

So here I am talking about anything and everything. I couldn't continue the cycle which was never acknowledged to even have the chance to be broken..

Here I still am. I'm still here and there's a reason for that. I've gone through so much trauma, hardship, health issues, and pain by age 26. Neverminded the struggles and difficultly navigating my way through life and healing as a single mom of two beautiful daughters, ages 7 and soon-to-be 3 year old.

No one talked about it, but I talk about it now. I will continue to always discuss mental health and every aspect relative to it, especially with my children.

#Childhood #Stigma #genrationaltrauma #Breakthecycle #Family #MentalHealth #Awareness #Parenting #Life #Pain #Communication #Children #Singlemom #hardship #survive #speakout #childrensvoices #Health #advocate #makechange #Hope #childrenarethefuture #teachchildren #selfawareness #healingjourney

11 reactions 3 comments