General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhen I was less than 18 months old I was taken away from my family. My mother was pregnant with my
younger brother and was burned badly. The doctors kept her in the hospital until my brother was born and maybe longer.
I was sent to live with my aunt. I don't conscientiously remember this. I have no memories of the time before my fifth birthday.
I grew up extremely introverted. I stuttered until 6th grade and was not completely potty trained by second grade. I was mostly afraid to ask to go to the bathroom. Of course I was bullied in school. On purpose by nuns at times.
I always got poor marks in character on my report card. I was told I had character defects but today I know it was symptoms of ADHD.
I am above average in intelligence but had drug and alcohol addictions and never did as good at my career as I think I could have. I always fought with authority. I was usually fired before too long and never built up much time at anyone place.
Today I still struggle with depression at 72. I don't sleep well. But I learned many coping mechanisms.
How much of this is a result of my not being with my mother back then I don't know, but I was told that those were the months you are supposed to bond with your mother.
So I say all this because I think of the kids taken away from their families at young ages and what it will do to them in coming years. It can't be good.
Demovictory9
(32,457 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)None of the sociopaths supporting these measures will understand that. So, in essence, those poor kids and families are gonna be paying the price for a long time to come, as are the spawn of Trump regime members.
DFW
(54,405 posts)Although I don't suppose being under the control of sadistic nuns helped, either.
Hekate
(90,714 posts)...when they were infants or children. I know some. Psychologists know for a fact this is true.
What Trump and Sessions are doing is heinous.
Scruffy1
(3,256 posts)gopiscrap
(23,761 posts)I too was seperated from my mother. I was born with out a father, and as an infant had encephalitis and was hospitalized from 3-6 months old. Then was in an orphanage for a year until my mom married the man who adopted me., He died when I was 7 and my mom had a brain hemmorhage and totally incapacitated when I was 15. I had some of the same problems as you. Specially the adhd
murielm99
(30,745 posts)My mother had a baby whom she lost at birth. She became so depressed that she could not or would not take care of me or herself, as my father put it. He took a second job to pay for the baby's funeral and my mother's psychiatric care. He worked as a milkman in the early mornings. He met a nice family whose father also worked as a milkman. They took care of me for the next year.
My mother had another baby, my younger brother. The psychiatrist suggested ways for her to rebond with me, and my family followed those suggestions. My mother's rejection of me did not end, however. It has been a lifelong pattern. I am nearly seventy, and have suffered lifelong problems because of this. Therapy helps.
I am sorry for all your troubles. I, too, worry about what these children will suffer, on top of their existing trauma from fleeing their homes!
cpamomfromtexas
(1,245 posts)I had parents that only cared about their bank accounts. I share your problems.
snowybirdie
(5,229 posts)when his mother died in her sleep, next to him. A strange man took him to a strange house and never mentioned her name again. Now a greatgrandfather, he still suffers from this loss. Yesterday, he said, out of the blue, "they are really scared"! I suffer with him and the children!
RobinA
(9,893 posts)when my mother became ill and was taken to the hospital for surgery. I'm not sure how long she was gone, but I stayed with my grandparents, whom I knew very well and in fact, lived with when I was first born. I trusted them totally. I had an decent, involved father. However, on some level I knew all was not well. My mother survived a situation where something like 11% of people survive - I certainly didn't know that at the time, but they did.
I developed screaming separation anxiety and fear that only abated when I went to college. I mean, I was a basket case through elementary school. I don't know if it was from the separation at two or not, but I generally had a very functional family and upbringing otherwise. I don't remember much of the actual event except my mother leaving, but I definitely feel for these children and have some understanding of the thoughts the gnawing fear are facing.