childhood

Father’s Day Feels

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Father’s day is always a bit weird for me. My father is alive and still very much married to my mother, and I am not even going to say that he is a bad guy or horrible person, because he is truly just unhealed. Hurt people hurt people, and my father must suffer a lot internally. I would too if I fucked up having a genuine connection with my only child.

As a teenager I would have told you he was terrible though. I would have told you how angry and mean he was to myself and my mother when no one was around to witness it. I would have told you how the more he drank, the angrier he became, and how you could 100% tell if he took something else along with his Jaeger.

Depending on how close we were, I may have told you about the time he slapped my glasses clean off my face for standing up for myself after he called me a “bitch.” Maybe I would have told you about how he cornered me in my bathroom, while I looked behind him at my mother with fearful eyes. Maybe I would have told you that after the cops came that night and we didn’t press any charges that it somehow got even worse after that.

I would have told you that my parents didn’t love each other. Hell, I’d still probably tell you that today if I hadn’t been on the healing journey I’ve been on. Now to be able to see the wounds and codependency, and I can understand why they would feel love for one another, especially when they have been together for 35 years. I just could not be apart of a relationship like that- and I have my father to thank for that.

As fucked up as my childhood was at some points, it definitely showed me a lot of what I did not want my life to be. I always knew I wanted calm, comforting love with my future husband. I knew I wanted to be with someone who handled their emotions well, and who wasn’t an angry drinker if they did have an occasional beer.

I knew I wanted a partner who saw me as a beautiful person and addition to their life; a true teammate to do this shitty thing called life with. I knew that the man I would marry would never hurt me physically or mentally, nor would he do that to our future children. I knew I had a chance to build a life outside of those walls once I got old enough, and I can’t help but be thankful for the motivation that kept me focused.

No, it wasn’t right. The rage and hurtful words I heard and witnessed was not necessary. The control and disrespect as I became an adult who was taking classes at community college was unacceptable. The lack of love I felt and lack of support for my own emotions made me realize that I’d never have a partner like that in my life- and luckily, I have the complete opposite.

My husband makes sure that I feel beautiful every single day. He does not raise his voice, nor does he have outbursts. He respects me, as well as my values and beliefs- even if he doesn’t always hold the same beliefs. He is someone who I am proud of and happy to come home to; he is someone who makes me feel safe. I am so blessed to have him in my life, and I just know that one day, he will be the best father to our child(ren).

I still will see my father today, I just make sure to go early when no drinking is happening yet. I have set my own boundaries quietly which have worked for me to have less problems and resentment over the years. I pray that he is able to heal and face what haunts him so he can put down the bottle one day, and until then I will still love him, just from a distance.

My Favorite Children’s Book

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Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?

Every time I tell someone my favorite childhood book, they all say the same thing: “I’ve never heard of it.” The book is called “Snuggle Piggy and the Magic Blanket,” and I still have it to this day, because I plan to read it to my future children!

It was about a young pig who had a magical blanket with all of these fun characters on it, and they would come to life in the night and hang out with him! I remember always being so excited to read that book, and I literally haven’t met a single person who has heard of that book other than my family who read it to me.

Fractured

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Have you ever broken a bone?

I have never broken a bone (knocks on wood), but when I was 8 years old I did fracture my growth plate in my right hand by the ring finger knuckle. This was my first year of public school after being homeschooled for a couple of years and I was enjoying my time at recess. When they blew the whistles and it was time to line up to go back to class, I started running down the hill and on my way down I tripped and fell. As I went to catch myself, my middle finger and ring finger on my right hand basically did the splits, and I felt immediate pain.

When I went to get myself up, I took a look at my hand and my fingers were stuck split apart and I remember feeling scared and just crying out in pain. A teacher took me to the nurse and they called my dad to come and get me, and he ended up taking me to either the hospital or some sort of urgent care that had imaging available.

They took x-rays and brought the doctor in who let me and my dad know that I dislocated my ring finger, and that they needed to put it back into place. My 8 year old self was immediately scared, because something told me I was about to be in pain again. Of course, I was right and they told me that they needed to pull on my finger and move it back where it’s supposed to be, and that they really want to do it in one try to that they don’t have to do it again.

I cooperated mainly because the idea of me flinching or messing it up and having to do it all over again sounded worse than just getting it done in one shot. I did as they said and relaxed to the best of my ability and as I sat there on the table the doctor quickly grabbed my hand, pulled and shifted my finger back where it was supposed to me. In the midst of that I definitely let out a little scream and began to cry again, and immediately asked “do you have to do it again!?”

They told me they’d need another x-ray to know for certain so they started that process. Once they said it was all in place, I was so relieved to find out that I didn’t have to go through that torture again. I remember them telling me and my dad that there was a fracture and I’d have to wear a cast, and that I was excited for, because I’d seen other kids have people sign their casts.

I left with my fingers tapped together with a wrap bandage that they put all the way to my elbow for whatever reason, and a whole ass sling. We had to make a separate appointment elsewhere to go get the hard cast, and once we did that I only had the cast on my hand- it was cut off right by the wrist. I got hot pink because that was what I wanted, and I don’t remember how many weeks I had to wear it for, but I do remember seeing a very colorfully bruised (and kinda smelly) hand once they removed it.

I didn’t have to get recasted or do anything different in life once the cast was removed, other than going back to writing with my dominant hand that was out of commission for a few weeks (bet my teachers loved trying to read my homework during that time). I remembered being told that later in life I could feel aches or pains associated with the fractured growth plate, and this past winter I started having days where it would just throb in the exact area that was injured. It took 20 years, which was likely exacerbated by cell phone and computer mouse usage, but they were definitely right.

I really would rather not do that again or break any bones, which means I probably should be working out more and working on my balance to help me as I continue to age. I just checked the weather right now after writing that and it’s 66 and sunny out, so I think that means it’s time for a walk! I’ll make sure not to run down any hills.

My First Computer (Prompt)

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Write about your first computer.

My first computer wasn’t mine, and I’ll always remember that. When I was seven years old, I had a birthday party at the clubhouse at our apartment pool. This party I remember so many family members coming to, some I didn’t even know. One of these family members was my dad’s cousin (so also my cousin, but he was older so I probably looked at him like an uncle I didn’t know lol), and he brought in the best gift: a computer.

This is the early 2000s and we don’t have a computer in the house, as they’re relatively new and I assume they’re also not cheap. I never even thought about having a computer, but I knew that you could color on the computer and that usually they had some games, so I was excited to play with it!

I remember asking my parents “is the computer for me?!” even though I assumed that it was considering it was my birthday and everyone was bringing me gifts, but that’s when I quickly learned not to get your hopes up. My dad looked at me and without hesitation told me “no, it’s for me” and meant it.

He took that computer and, in my child eyes, became obsessed with it. He’d come home from work and be on the computer for the rest of the night. I occasionally got to play with paint and as I got a little older I could play games on disneychannel.com and what not, but I felt like the computer completely changed my dad.

He seemed angrier and like he never had time for me or my mom, and like everything on the internet was more important. This is probably why I am so passionate when it comes to screen time and how addictive it is, because parents will literally neglect their child and even their own needs for the sake of a screen.

I have since grown older and I do not wish to hold resentment. I have moved on for the better and have learned a lot throughout my life. There are many lessons I will take with and apply to my future parenthood journey, and this was an example of one. I remember how it made me feel, and I will do my best to avoid hurting my child(ren) in that way.

11•11•22

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I wanted to make a post today, because I love the date and I also was able to reconnect with a good friend of mine today! She and I grew up together in the apartment complex that she is currently living in with her husband and sister! It was honestly kind of crazy to go walk through the courtyard where we once rode our bikes, and then over to a huge patch of grass that was once a the pool where I learned how to swim.

In a way it was kind of like a part of our childhood was completely gone, yet there we stood, reminiscing about it all. Honestly it was so nice being able to catch up and talk as if we never stopped, which I already knew would happen. We laughed so much and we just talked about our lives; it’s just amazing how much we’ve grown from those elementary school days. Now we’re adults who work and pay bills and live with our other halves…little me would be so proud of us.

I am honestly excited for tomorrow as I feel it’ll be a productive, yet relaxing day for myself and my boyfriend. I am excited to enjoy breakfast together and then afterwards I’m gonna get my nails redone since I still have my (now super outgrown) spooky nails. I have to get groceries afterwards, but I’m just doing a pickup, because I don’t need that stress in my life tomorrow LOL. I also am hoping to declutter a bit and put up our Christmas decorations! As some meme on the internet said: “you can still enjoy your turkey while looking at a Christmas tree.”

I also don’t care about turkey and Thanksgiving really isn’t my favorite holiday. I have said that before and I thought about doing a “Friends-giving,” but also kind of don’t feel like planning that. I do however want to have a Christmas party this year, I should probably let people know about that soon… another thing to do tomorrow!

I am happy to be feeling more present and self-aware lately, and I am feeling relief from going to the chiropractor as well. I no longer am having that feeling of tightness in my chest, and the neck/shoulder pain is getting better as well. I know I have a lot of work to do, but I am happy with my progress thus far and I am excited to keep moving forward with my healing journey, both mentally and physically.