This is the follow-up to the powerful essay Alexandra wrote last week. In it, she came to grips with childhood trauma and searched for answers in her mother's actions. Read that essay if you haven't yet, then come back and read this.  Dear Mom, I’ve begun writing this too many times to remember. I’m angry. I’m upset. I’m sad. I’m disappointed. I’m trying to make sense of so … [Continue reading...]

I have always been slightly confused and jealous of friends who have functional relationships with their parents. I grew up without my father around and watched a severely depressed woman raise four children in fear. Her children were supposed to obey her and be polite. Over and over in my childhood I heard people tell my mother how well behaved her children were because we used our manners, … [Continue reading...]