I am looking for people, like myself, who experienced severe childhood trauma, but did not succumb to the stereotype of the “child from a broken home”.
If you read the newspapers, you know that broken homes are the source of the world’s worst serial killers and rapists. I don’t believe it. By that logic, I should be worse than Charles Manson.
I believe there are lots of psychos from “normal” well educated, middle or upper class families. My theory is this: many people from toxic families are doing well for themselves. We don’t hear about them because that is not “news”. Who wants to read stories about the state providing better parenting than families?
I am seeking “bad starts with happy endings” stories from people are the exception to the mythic that deviance is not the inevitable outcome of neglectful or abusive parenting.
To that end, I will offer my own story, which I describe as “the never ending train wreck” of my childhood.
You will notice that I have set up this blog to be anonymous. I think this is appropriate, for the sake of the stories. There is nothing about my childhood that shames or embarrasses me. I’ve never “blamed myself” for what happened to me. I’ve never been secretive about these things, sometimes I share them with people I hardly know. But, I have noticed that some people’s attitudes towards me shift, as if my stories inspire fear or anxiety or pity. I have a professional life. I don’t want potential clients to search my name on the internet and read about my childhood.
If you had a bad start with a happy ending, I encourage you to share your story here. I can imagine a few benefits that might ensue.
First, we don’t get much opportunity to speak with other people who had similar experiences.
Second, we might be able to chip away at the stereotype of demon children from broken homes.
Third, we might better understand why some children emerge from hell to lead fruitful, fulfilling lives.
Filed under: family | Tagged: broken homes, crown wards, Introduction
