Episode 3: Growing Up with a Toxic Mom

Is Mothers Day a traumatizing experience for you every year because your relationship with your mom is not so great? 

If so, there's a chance you'll relate to what we talk about here. 

In this episode, we celebrate "Children of Bad Mothers Day." We get very personal and very specific about the trauma our own Mom has caused us and the complicated feelings we have for her as a result.

We recognize the complexity of human beings, and we know that "bad mom" is an oversimplification. Our Mom, like many mothers who end up causing their children pain, has reasons for the way that she is. Yeah, of course, "hurt people hurt people" and all that.

However, we believe that parents have a responsibility not to dump the trauma they've been through on their kids. What our Mom has been through isn't her fault, but that does not give her the right to make it our problem.

The importance of "breaking the cycle" is especially true for parents, but it's also true for humans in general. The fact that we've been abused does not justify our abuse of others.

This was a tough conversation for both of us, but we're glad we had it. Hopefully, you'll find something meaningful for yourself while sorting through our baggage!

[TRIGGER WARNINGS: domestic violence, repressed memories, parental neglect, victim blaming, sexual abuse, rape, generational trauma, emotional incest, child abuse, poverty, and gaslighting]

Show Notes

Doug's coffee for the week was Ecuador Lojas from Heartwood Coffee Roasters.

Here are the articles we mentioned during the episode:

Emotional Incest: When is Close Too Close

Was Part of Your Childhood Deprived by Emotional Incest?

Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers

Signs of a Narcissistic Mother (It's Not Easy to Spot!)

 Our Blog Things quiz this week was "What Family Role Do You Play?"

This episode was recorded on May 21, 2020.