It's been a hard week in the USA, and I'm stretching to find good things to note. Here goes
I lined up the felt bunny brigade on the mantel for an Easter display, made these several years ago, hand stitched and embroidered differently on each side
Fine Dining
made some delicious strawberry cream muffins this week from https://www.365daysofbakingandmore.com/easy-strawberry-muffins/
I played around with ideas til one was intriguing enough to make me finish it!
just because
I like the shimmery polish on my nails this week,
The citrus salad I made this week is so good, fresh grapefruit oranges cherries and bananas.
Books
The latest book by Rhys Bowen came available finally and I'm rushing to finish the one before so I can start. An audio book by Jodi Picoult that I hadn't finished before it was snatched up, came back so I finished it.
library news
I love libraries even virtual ones. Ours in the Denver area are exceptional. We have access to a lot of E Books and audio books through them. Of course the latest abomination edict from the current regime is defunding libraries along with all that makes life richer for we common folk.
Despite the foot injuries, I was able to put on a sandal and walk the back yard some this week.
(remember y'all I'm reaching for something good here)
I've loved watching the Eagle cam out of Big Bear CA this week, loved seeing three little bowling pin looking babies, bobbing around like drunken sailors (but then one died now there are two babies) thank you to Diann at littlepenguins for mentioning it last Thursday
warning, the following is true but not particularly upbeat except that I survived
our prompt: What was it like being the oldest/youngest/middle/only child of
the family?
I was kind of all four...
as I was told, my birth mother who was unmarried and pregnant and wanted to do the best for her baby,
(me)
She was brought from Ohio by her brother to wait out the pregnancy at a woman's home in Dade City Florida
that woman's mission was to help women in this predicament. She overheard the doctor threaten my mother who said she wanted to meet the family who was to adopt her baby. The doctor told her to shut up and do what he said, as "things happen" in delivery rooms.... The woman who owned the house was eavesdropping, and chased off the doctor.
as it turned out, the woman's daughter had 2 children, aged 12 and 16, two girls, and was willing to adopt this baby
me
They had middle class money, but plenty to live on back then. The social worker approved them.
the owner of the unwed mother's boarding house became my adopted grandmother. Her daughter became my adoptive mother and took me directly from the hospital, being told I didn't have a liver and would die soon. I weighed 4 lbs. She and her daughters fed me when I opened my mouth and I lived.
So technically I was the "youngest" for a while. The elder sister never showed any care for me, and got married when I was about 4.
The next oldest sister was kind to me, and I adored her, felt safe with her.
She brushed my thin straight tangled hair without hurting me, she took me to the doctors and one night after being hurt she grabbed up this little sister and ran away. She had a car accident though and we were both returned to the home. She was the sort of protector of me, and after I was hurt by the mother, my sister took me to her bedroom for the night... I adored her, and she left me when she married (I was 7) I dreamed of her and her husband taking me with them but it never happened.
as the baby of the family, and now the only child, I had things money could buy but no safety.
other kids envied me for those things and never seemed to wonder why I wanted to stay with them.
I lived in that house as an only child, often ignored (which was safer) or abused since I was now the only one they could hurt/control. I was threatened to never tell what went on. The married sisters were gone, and my first "nephew" by the elder one, was born when I was 5. I was like his older sister at that point. The other sister had a baby when I was 8 and they both visited for family dinners on Sundays.
now I was treated like an older sister.
I never fit in with any of them but lived there like an only child. I was lonely and unsafe, and wondered what would happen to me if I was removed from the house. I had things and toys, and played by myself mostly. I played a lot of imagination games where I was the mom and took care of my dolls. I did a lot of puzzles, coloring, learning books, crafts, and spent days outside on my own. I developed a lifetime love of making craft, of writing (I wrote kid books), of relying on TV, of history and wondering what it would be like to have lived long ago, Imagination was my go to activity.
As the sisters continued to have kids and I got older I was expected to be babysitter..
I was expected to be good, keep quiet, do what I was told and have no opinions. It was dangerous to disagree with the mother so I was good and quiet not to draw attention to myself.
I knew what living with a dictator felt like. The adoptive mother knew to divide we sisters by telling lies about each of us to the others so that we wouldn't bond, as it's easier to control someone that way.
I went to the state university in town, and the father paid for it. He paid for the other sisters college too, and bought us all a car when we were about 17, He paid for their weddings that I didn't get as I was the last to marry and he was gone by then. I paid for it, and that's okay.
I am honest to a fault because I grew up with dishonesty and hate it, so I'm sorry if this story is sad to read. It's only the very tip of the story by the way. I know birth order is important, but assumptions are made about you if you're the "baby" like you're spoiled, or oldest so you are more responsible.
Maybe I'm all of this because I took on all the roles growing up.
I married an oldest kid, and he is responsible as it turns out.
16 comments:
we love the bunny parade... and we are so happy the garden bunny is with you... he was sent to be with you.....
Sweet bun buns
Thank you for sharing this piece of your life story.
Sorry you had such a rough and unsafe start to life, and felt so alone. How unfair for any child to endure that.
I smiled when I saw that bunny row...so cute. I admire you for being brave enough to tell us at least part of your story. I'm sorry you had such a rough start in life but you've overcome that adversity and obviously are having a much deserved good life now. {hugs}
Your bunny brigade is adorable! I'm sad to think of your lonely and unsafe childhood. There are way too many similar stories out there yet unfortunately. I was an only child of older parents. Mostly I had a good childhood, knew I was loved, and encouraged to be whatever I wanted to be. We were lower middle class, but was never hungry or went without any necessities. Books were considered a necessity our house! My mother suffered from severe depression, so when she was having "episodes" things were tough. When I was 5 my maternal grandmother moved to town and lived a block away. She was a treasure! My parents were strict, but never abusive.
Our departing governor (Noem) proposed cutting the budget for our state library system. But luckily the legislature listened to the schools and communities that pleaded with them to save a much needed program. So her proposal was soundly defeated, at least at the state level - for now.
I think your childhood experiences made you the woman you are today - resilient, creative, and kind-hearted. Aren't those eagles fascinating to watch?! I just love how they care for the babies. And watching the eaglets reach some growth milestones is interesting, too. The last few days they've been practicing flapping their wings! Happy Thursday!
Your bunny parade is very cheerful. :-) Just what we need! All the best, Regula
Your bunnies are adorable. I can relate to a lot of what you said about family. You are brave to post about it. I have to admit that I am not always willing to look at the ugly parts of my childhood.
Those are cute bunnies and the muffin sure does look great! Thanks for joining Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
Those bunnies are cute. What a chaotic childhood. O
Your mantle bunnies are so cute! You certainly did have a tough childhood.
The bunny parade is delightful.
I love Jodi Picoult books but had not heard of this one. I have just bought it for my Kindle.
I was the youngest of eight children, (six girls and two boys). The first six were born prewar, and my sister and I came ten year later. Only one of the older group still lived at home when I was a child. She was out at work all day so I didn't see a lot of her, but I was only fifteen months younger than one sister and we werre like chalk and cheese. Mum always said we were company for one another even when we were fighting. She was into boys, clothes, music, makeup etc, and I was a blue-stocking, prefering to put my nose in a book or study in my bedroom. Dad was quiet and kept to himself, but we bonded over a love of the garden, flowers, creepy-crawlies and so on. Mum was strict and my older sister thought I w3ould find it hard to cope in the big wide world when I went to college, so she took me out at the weekends, teaching me to be comfortable in Cafés, the cinema, etc. In my final summer before I went off to college she took me on holiday to Switzerland and it was wonderful.I never went back to live at home, and was married a few months later, divorced with two small boys four years later, married again after two years and am still with my husband after 43 years. We have five boys, and I love them each differently but completely. I guess I am closest to the youngest one because he is gay and I supported him through some tough times when he was in his teens. Also I am kind of compensating for his early years when my time was mostly taken up with son number four who had/still has, ADHE, and needed a lot of help and support too.
Families can be tough but I wouldn't chnage mine for the world.
Sorry your childhood was so tough but I sure it’s made you the lovely person you are now. Your cooking/baking always looks yummy.
Peggy is a cairn terrier…our 5th….they say when you’ve had one you will always choose a Cairn. We had 3 at one time and wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Hugs,
Annie x
Love your bunnies, great collection. Sorry to hear what a sad time you had. Keep smiling and have a good weekend. Hugs Angela xxx
The bunnies are just so springy! I love it. I am the oldest, 4 younger brothers. So in someways I was the princess and in others the maid. My next youngest brother is 13 months younger, so we were similar ages. I went to school early to get out of the house and not be responsible for getting of any of them there on time. I also baby sat the younger two, 8 and 10 years younger, while the older two 13months and 3 years younger threw pot and mushroom parties. It was never a dull moment. Going to college was bliss. Returned home after for 2 years but then went to Boston and stayed in New England!
Post a Comment