So beautiful in its form; so heart-breaking in its content. I remember watching for the headlights of another yellow to sine on the telephone pole on a dark street.
I haven’t written that part of the story except in my journals. Your essay from the child’s perspective gave me some insight into what my daughter experienced. Thank you.
I feel your despair and your deep disappointment. Those teenage years should have been ones filled with hope for our future. And, always in my mind, Sharon Olds poem… I think part of the title is May 1937.
I agree with Dee. You give us this heartbreaking story in beautiful form. It is worthy of that beauty. I once read that many of us, as children, did not realize that other families were going through very similar things. That sad connection is part of what makes reading your story so valuable. Our hearts need this co-regulation. I am sad that you went through this. I'm glad you are not alone in this experience.
Thank you. Sorry I missed this when you wrote it. And it’s true: I had no idea any other families were experiencing their versions of the same kind of thing. My mother had a lot of shame about it, and she passed that along by declaring it had to be a huge secret.
So beautiful in its form; so heart-breaking in its content. I remember watching for the headlights of another yellow to sine on the telephone pole on a dark street.
Thank you, Dee. Have you written about your headlight experience? I feel like it must not have been pleasant.
I haven’t written that part of the story except in my journals. Your essay from the child’s perspective gave me some insight into what my daughter experienced. Thank you.
I hope it wasn’t painful to read.
So vulnerable, and vivid. ❤️
thank you.
Janet, you are a talented writer. I am so grateful to you for sharing your story with us. ❤️
Thank you. It's all about our words sustaining each other.
I feel your despair and your deep disappointment. Those teenage years should have been ones filled with hope for our future. And, always in my mind, Sharon Olds poem… I think part of the title is May 1937.
Thank you. I will look for that poem.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47057/i-go-back-to-may-1937
There it is. I should never have read it again. It always breaks my heart for everyone.
Oh, wow, Ann. That was something. Thanks for sending me the link.
I agree with Dee. You give us this heartbreaking story in beautiful form. It is worthy of that beauty. I once read that many of us, as children, did not realize that other families were going through very similar things. That sad connection is part of what makes reading your story so valuable. Our hearts need this co-regulation. I am sad that you went through this. I'm glad you are not alone in this experience.
Thank you. Sorry I missed this when you wrote it. And it’s true: I had no idea any other families were experiencing their versions of the same kind of thing. My mother had a lot of shame about it, and she passed that along by declaring it had to be a huge secret.