I'm flattered that you were inspired to post based on our conversation yesterday. Moreso because the subject matter needs more attention in this time of divisiveness. Why do poverty stricken, hopeless rural communities vote against policy that would protect them and improve their standard of living? In small town USA the evangelical church has sway and are very politically motivated to repress for their own power and, frankly, the end of abortion! It's THAT important to them. In other words, don't hate the player, hate the game.
ps Darci's mom's failure is not the lack of "strict" child rearing, but the lack of motivation to ensure her daughter not get in trouble. She gives up to Darci's melt downs rather than do whatever parenting it takes to break the generational dysfunction. Not to give up too much, but Darci's mother succumbs to a desperation of her own.
I don't think in my hometown I can blame the church. Maybe elsewhere, though. It does make some sense psychologically to me that people who have extremely chaotic, rough lives latch on to conservative messages. Conservative messengers are more likely to make things feel certain, easy and black-and-white. Liberal messengers are usually more nuanced and that feels scary to some. My two cents.
I have read two books that enlightened me, and Hillbilly Elegy is one. Tara Westover's memoir Educated is the second. The theme of mental illness in her family resonated. My mother, who did not raise me or my three sisters, is bipolar and schizophrenic. Reading Tara's memoir gave me a perspective I never considered, which is a relief that I was not affected by her mental illness in a way that could have altered my life had she been a constant presence. It also revealed that forgiveness and compassion are possible without including a mentally ill family member in your life.
Thank you, Victoria, for sharing your family story and opening a dialog with your friends.
Thank you for your bravery of talking about your family deaths of despair. I’m not sure you know this, but I had a half sister, who ended up becoming bipolar, do herself in at 28. A younger brother who died of despair by his own hand at 54 and an older brother, who died in a senseless car accident going the wrong way on a freeway drunk and took three other young men with him. And that’s just the beginning, so these are hard stories to tell so thank you for starting the conversation.
I knew about the deaths but not the extent of the car accident. That's horrible. Thanks for sharing in a comment. So much despair, so many deaths, so many people left behind to try to make sense of it all.
I'm flattered that you were inspired to post based on our conversation yesterday. Moreso because the subject matter needs more attention in this time of divisiveness. Why do poverty stricken, hopeless rural communities vote against policy that would protect them and improve their standard of living? In small town USA the evangelical church has sway and are very politically motivated to repress for their own power and, frankly, the end of abortion! It's THAT important to them. In other words, don't hate the player, hate the game.
ps Darci's mom's failure is not the lack of "strict" child rearing, but the lack of motivation to ensure her daughter not get in trouble. She gives up to Darci's melt downs rather than do whatever parenting it takes to break the generational dysfunction. Not to give up too much, but Darci's mother succumbs to a desperation of her own.
I don't think in my hometown I can blame the church. Maybe elsewhere, though. It does make some sense psychologically to me that people who have extremely chaotic, rough lives latch on to conservative messages. Conservative messengers are more likely to make things feel certain, easy and black-and-white. Liberal messengers are usually more nuanced and that feels scary to some. My two cents.
I have read two books that enlightened me, and Hillbilly Elegy is one. Tara Westover's memoir Educated is the second. The theme of mental illness in her family resonated. My mother, who did not raise me or my three sisters, is bipolar and schizophrenic. Reading Tara's memoir gave me a perspective I never considered, which is a relief that I was not affected by her mental illness in a way that could have altered my life had she been a constant presence. It also revealed that forgiveness and compassion are possible without including a mentally ill family member in your life.
Thank you, Victoria, for sharing your family story and opening a dialog with your friends.
Yes, I'll def talk more about mental health issues and the far-reaching impact on family members (esp kids)!!
Thank you for your bravery of talking about your family deaths of despair. I’m not sure you know this, but I had a half sister, who ended up becoming bipolar, do herself in at 28. A younger brother who died of despair by his own hand at 54 and an older brother, who died in a senseless car accident going the wrong way on a freeway drunk and took three other young men with him. And that’s just the beginning, so these are hard stories to tell so thank you for starting the conversation.
‘I’m looking for the life.’ 💕
I knew about the deaths but not the extent of the car accident. That's horrible. Thanks for sharing in a comment. So much despair, so many deaths, so many people left behind to try to make sense of it all.