It’s difficult to reflect on the problems of an abusive parent when you’re in the middle of the recovery storm. I remember feelings of bitterness, anger, and resentment surfacing many times throughout my writing journey. Bitterness had taken root in my heart long before adulthood. I struggled to understand why my mother failed to protect…
I have fond memories of my father despite his flaws and the destruction caused. He tried to be a good man, served on the local fire department for years, and was honored at his funeral for service. He toiled in the fields, plowing and planting in spring, and harvesting in the fall to feed nine…
Originally shared during the closing season of Abuse Journal, this reflection marks the completion of a ten-year memoir journey and the beginning of The Remnants Journal. As you may know, I started writing on Tumblr to release the anguish of abuse—all the pain buried for years. At first, the memories came in bits and pieces—scattered…