Dear parents
You got it so wrong. The world you brought my DB and I into back then was a world of repressed emotion and fear. You should have separated as soon as you realised things were wrong. Yet you continued - for 18 years - putting us through it every single day until we were old enough to move away for university. I know you thought you were doing the correct thing mum to keep us in an 'unbroken home' yet you couldn't have been further from the truth. You should have plucked the courage up to leave that controlling, abusive, mentally unwell excuse of a father 20 years before you did. Easy for me to say now but as a mother it was the correct thing to do for your children.
You should have left that person who I can't even bring to call a father, the man who instilled in me a deep fear of everything as a child.
Now that I am a mother, I can't understand how and why you stayed. It is no surprise that your children now live as far away from you as possible. No surprise that we rarely travel back to where we grew up. No surprise that our relationships are poor. There is one thing that you could do which would help now - address the past and talk to us about it, instead of bottling it all up, pretending that everything is ok when it really is not.
Believe it or not mum, I would love for you to have a strong relationship with your first grandchild, but your lack of ability to show any emotion or discuss any of the turmoil both of you have put DB and I through will not go away.
Mum, I am happy that you have moved on and found someone new. As for my excuse of a father, we've dwindled down to pretty much non contact. It's too difficult, any contact brings back those terrible feelings I had as a child. I've moved on yet you have regressed. You are now baby-like and reliant on a multitude of pills to get through each day. Can't do anything and never have done anything for yourself. Unable to talk and even look your children in the eye. For years I listened to you moan and cry and tried to give some advice and help. A little girl trying to give advice to a prick. But to no avail, the guilt you have put on to us is harrowing and nearly broke me a while back. Face up to things you wimp.
For myself and my new family, I've had to put it all behind me and move on. That doesn't mean it's not difficult every single day. To not have that safe backbone feeling of family. Thankfully, I get it now from my daughter, husband, friends and my loving MIL&FIL.
So, to you both - grow up, somewhere within you both I hope one day that you can talk to me and even a small apology or just recognition of what you've done would go a very long, long way.
Wow. Wonder when I'll pluck up the courage to vocalise this..for now, writing seems like a good start! Thanks to the person that started this thread!