
Letting Go of the “Wish” Daughter I Never Had
Your name is Emily. You are loved. Fiercely. You complete our family, and it is hard to imagine being without you. But you don’t exist. You never did. And you never will.
Your name is Emily. You are loved. Fiercely. You complete our family, and it is hard to imagine being without you. But you don’t exist. You never did. And you never will.
I know why I’m second best. I know that since I’m the one involved in the daily parenting grind, telling her – make your bed, go brush your teeth, get dressed, STOP jiggling my butt! – I’m the prime target for her frustration and anger. I WANT TO BE THE FAVORITE PARENT!
There is a height chart on the wall reminding me that I didn’t do the “parenting thing” I planned to do.
I stood among the rubble after a particularly bad explosion and screamed in my head, “HOW MUCH LONGER DO I HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS?”
Bullying. The not so last frontier of childhood. Despite the passing of decades, it is one piece of childhood that refuses to go away.
I hear that three and a half is magical, and that children turn the corner from beast to beauty, but I’m still waiting…
This womb is closed for business. Done. Over it. That ship has sailed. My port is closed. How many more ways do I need to say it?
Loving like a mother is simply defined by the object of that love. When you love someone unconditionally, you love like a mother.
Motherhood isn’t like the movies. As it turns out most of your friends will forget about you.
I waited. I didn’t call her out on her lie. I just cocked my head a little, looked her back straight in the eye and waited for her to blink.
Your name is Emily. You are loved. Fiercely. You complete our family, and it is hard to imagine being without you. But you don’t exist. You never did. And you never will.
I know why I’m second best. I know that since I’m the one involved in the daily parenting grind, telling her – make your bed, go brush your teeth, get dressed, STOP jiggling my butt! – I’m the prime target for her frustration and anger. I WANT TO BE THE FAVORITE PARENT!
There is a height chart on the wall reminding me that I didn’t do the “parenting thing” I planned to do.
I stood among the rubble after a particularly bad explosion and screamed in my head, “HOW MUCH LONGER DO I HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS?”
Bullying. The not so last frontier of childhood. Despite the passing of decades, it is one piece of childhood that refuses to go away.
I hear that three and a half is magical, and that children turn the corner from beast to beauty, but I’m still waiting…
This womb is closed for business. Done. Over it. That ship has sailed. My port is closed. How many more ways do I need to say it?
Loving like a mother is simply defined by the object of that love. When you love someone unconditionally, you love like a mother.
Motherhood isn’t like the movies. As it turns out most of your friends will forget about you.
I waited. I didn’t call her out on her lie. I just cocked my head a little, looked her back straight in the eye and waited for her to blink.