First I have to say that I LOVE the layout of your blog, it’s so pretty. Second ((hugs)) I’m so sorry. My mother hasn’t been that rotten but like you I barely remember my childhood and what I do involving her isn’t pretty. She’s had her way covered by my grandma for as long as I can remember and now that my grandma passed away 2 years ago, it’s coming out for everyone to see. Growing up she spent a lot of time favoring my sister and brother (half siblings) over me. In fact she use to pit my sister and I against each other only to yell that we argued all the time. Now that we’re away from her and neither of us talking to her, we’re best friends. My time of realizing I needed to break free of her was when she started pitting my 3 year old niece over my 5 year old son. I wasn’t going to let the same stuff that I went through happen to him. He was so excited to tell her about his pre-k teacher coming to the house and she ignored him and just complained about the crowed at Walmart … I was floored and could tell he was soo hurt but didn’t want to tell her that.

I’ve learned that just because they are family, doesn’t mean we need them in our lives. Sometimes we’re “blessed” with these type of family members to know what NOT to be, and to help us have a ‘role model’ to be BETTER than that. ((hugs))