Comments on: Daughters, Sisters, Mothers…Love

By: fortunata

fortunata — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:52:00 +0000

I really enjoyed your post. I am a mother of two (20 and 17), so different and so alike, but I love them the same, like you said they are my sunshine and my moonlight. I wish I could say the same for their Dad. He prefers the oldest one, he doesn’t see how precious the little one is. Thank you again!

P.S. We were divorced when they were 5 and 2

By: Lisa Smith

Lisa Smith — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:43:29 +0000

Awesome article…….
sounds as if you were describing my bizarre family…….I’m still trying to figure things out……..in my 40’s. I’m so glad I found your blog….thanks for your honesty and insight

By: Paige Orloff

Paige Orloff — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:26:28 +0000

This is a lovely post. I am thinking about many of these issues myself, as I raise my daughter (and my son) in a household that now includes my mother, too. I am so happy that your newfound affection for Twitter led me to find your lovely blog! I hope you’ll visit the site I write for, TheSisterProject.com–after reading this post, I am pretty sure you’ll find a great deal there to relate to and think about.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:59:28 +0000

Oh, my gosh, Mariel, this is SOOO wonderfully written. The words streaming from the depth of your soul were astonishing. How frank and honest….I had no idea what your background was. I just knew I loved you in “I Want To Keep My Baby.” I’m truly sorry that your childhood was as rough as it was, but thanks to it, it made you the person that you are today. And seeing you on Twitter and how positive and supportive you are to your followers, it’s just amazing. Remember, you did the best that you could with the information you had at the time. Your girls will always be close. I know they have all the love from their mom that they could ever ask for. What a great individual you are. Thank you for allowing us into your past. Peace be with you ALWAYS!

By: Bernadette Cooper

Bernadette Cooper — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:23:27 +0000

I never knew all this about you. (haha – like I’ve known you FOREVER!) Funny thing is, you pretty much described me, although I was the oldest child. Slightly different circumstances, of course, but the challenges, the insecurity, the realization that our role models and our children face the same obstacles or have overcome them are quite similar.

Thanks for sharing!

By: Tricia Greaves

Tricia Greaves — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 07:52:51 +0000

Hi Mariel:
I’m the youngest of three girls…it’s been an interesting ride…an intense one at times. We don’t see each other much…they live and are raising families in Maine…but we have a bond that is indestructible. I love them so much and know that that they’re always there for me and v/v. We have all been addicts as well, and are recovering and on individual spiritual paths of sorts. (I didn’t intend to write all that, but you inspired me with your writing!) Thanks for your honesty and sharing your experience…it’s always a pleasure to read your thoughts and expressions from your heart. Blessings to you!
Tricia

By: Robyn

Robyn — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:51:57 +0000

You wrote a beautiful and authentic post about moving past the shame and pain of a gothic horror childhood. There’s none of the blame game or attitude of entitlement in your memories. You own it and show the courage and insight in accepting the past. Your post is inspiring to others still on the road to their recovery.

I’ve been there. It took decades to understand why I am flypaper for crazy people. Crazy was normalcy in a home where addiction, suicide, mental illness, dysfunction and denial was a mask everyone hid behind to avoid feeling the feelings of the painful reality of life.

I’m 53 years old and the only one left who’s still standing. Instead of dwelling on the past, I’ve learned that it’s never too late to have a happy childhood. Be here now.

In closing, your recollection of “clean[ing] and organiz[ing] cabinets all the time” hit me like a thunderbolt. I was the family scapegoat. I used to spend hours lining up the canned goods in our food pantry. Everything had to be perfect and lined up or I wouldn’t go to sleep. I never understood why I did that. I now realize it was a child’s way of trying to create a sense of calm and control amidst the chaos around me.

Thank you.

By: Rick London

Rick London — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:08:16 +0000

This is a beautifully written blog, so much so that it was like a “spiritual knock in the head”; its not all (just) about exercise, eating right etc., it is about family and sacred space.
I have led my family to this blog and they, as I, am very grateful. Thanks Mariel for sharing this. Sincerely, Rick London

By: Meriel

Meriel — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:39:41 +0000

How insightful ! So much that I could relate to and just as much that opened my eyes to some of my own patterns and manipulations.

By: Zed

Zed — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:39:33 +0000

Holy wow.
It is so refreshing to hear such honesty and it delights me that someone has examined their past, their own motives, and is cognizant of how their actions affect their own kids’ lives.
I salute you for the serious hard work you are doing in this self-reflection. I wish more parents would be this honest and this giving and this open about their own past.
Thanks for taking the time to write that and share with us.
Have a really splendid day.