Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Sibling taunting leading to low self-esteem?
Just thinking about my childhood a lot lately. Perhaps now that I'm a junior in college, and twenty years old its only natural. Up until my parents divorced when I was ten, I had a pretty good childhood. But, when my parents split up my father drastically changed- for the worst. Often he would tell my my mother was a "no-good slut who didn't care about me, only about her job and how much she could get on it", and sometimes made death threats towards her. He's gotten better now, but I know that all traumatized me. But then when I was eleven my older half-sister (my father's daughter from his first marriage) moved back in with us because she had been living with her mom and stepdad in Arizona. Up until she moved back in with us back nine years ago, I had only seen my sister during my toddler years, and on a few visits for she wanted to go with her Mom, thinking my dad too strict. Anyway, I was so happy when she first moved in with us because I thought about how awesome it would be to have a big sister again after all these years for she hadn’t lived with us since I was a toddler. Since before he and Mama divorced. I thought now since I was older, I would learn to appreciate having her around more and we’d do all the “cool” things older and younger sisters shared together. Such as doing each other’s hair and makeup, going on shopping sprees, staying up practically all night giggling and sharing secrets, and just hanging out together. But I discovered however, that she wasn't interested in spending time with me at all. I understand now it was because she was nineteen and I was only eleven. But still, my sister, very much like my father had had a spiteful, mean attitude and temper. Dad also continued his tirade about Mom in her presence, and understandably, Sarah was always on his side. Lots of times while Dad was at work, I would try to talk to her about what was going on and how I felt, but usually she just laughed at me and said Mama deserved having those things said about her. She even said mean things about my Mama herself, and could be this way about my brothers, too. The latter being especially infuriating because I was so close to my brothers and barely even knew her and certainly wasn’t accustomed to hearing bull about them as well. Often she would call me ugly, reta****, and fat. Another incident that occured shortly after she moved in was that she would always give me hell about my hair. For back then my hair was very long- to my waist and she would often nag at me to cut it, and when I told her I didn't want to because I liked my very long hair she would say "why would you like something so ugly and snarly that looks like a rats nest?" Finally, a few months later I grew tired of having such long hair myself and cut it to my shoulders. Donating the rest to the Locks of Love foundation. Then when she saw me with my shorter hair, she exclaimed I'd cut it too short! Needless to say, I gave up trying to spend time with her, knowing nothing would ever make her happy. Plus she was always kissing my Dad's *** by offering to do so much house work for him, and then telling me I was lazy practically every single day. Once she promised to get second earrings pierced for me at Claire's and when we went home I had to do my homework before vacming for my father (this happend when I was still eleven). Then she exploded and because I was so "lazy" she refused to take me to get my ears pierced. After about a year, she moved out on her own and I was happy she was gone. I know that is messed up for me to say, but I did get more peace. Oh, she also would taunt me for being in special education due to dyscalculia. But anyway, now that I think back on all this, was I emotionally abused by my sister, and could this have lead to such poor self-esteem for a long period of time along with what my Dad used to say? Thanks!
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