Janey, please do not feel badly for me, even at that age, I knew there were surely others whom had it worse. Whe we grow up in a certain enviroment, we except that enviroment as normal. I did not have the courage to leave. I was offered that from my DAD, but turned it down, because it would have caused many problems with social services, i always felt they would take them away too...besides I am the middle child...the one whom has always felt, like I needed to take care of all the others. I survived, as you, and raven, along with many 1000's of others, where my mother was a failure...my Dad more than made up for it. So I am truly blessed, it was brought back to mind when talking about pickles...
I am happy you could share that part of your journey. Some things in our life, like adoption, is extremely hard to talk about...that is why I journal...it is good to purge the toxins...thanks for helping me to purge..
C.J.