The following is mine, no didn't make it up but didn't get reason for what was or not done.
I know if a few folks in my family read this they are gonna be pissed. Well all I can say is GET THE FUCK OVER IT! You can't judge me till your in my shoes!
Wikipedia defines mother as :
In the case of a mammal such as a human, a pregnant woman gestates a fertilized ovum. A fetus develops from the viable fertilized ovum or "embryo." Gestation occurs in the woman's uterus from conception until the fetus (assuming it is carried to term)
is sufficiently developed to be born. The woman experiences labor and
gives birth. Usually, once the baby is born, the mother produces milk via the lactation process. The mother's breast milk is the source of anti-bodies for the infant's immune system and commonly the sole source of nutrition for the first year or more of the child's life.
Dictionary defines it as :
moth·er
1 [muhth
-er] noun
1.a female parent.
2.( often initial capital letter ) one's female parent.
3.a mother-in-law, stepmother, or adoptive mother.
4. a term of address for a female parent or a woman having or regarded as having the status, function, or authority of a female parent.
5.a term of familiar address for an old or elderly woman.
7.a woman exercising control, influence, or authority like that of a mother: to be a mother to someone.
8.the qualities characteristic of a mother, as maternal affection: It is the mother in her showing itself.
9.something or someone that gives rise to or exercises protecting care over something else; origin or source.
Neither of which tells of what a mother should be.
I am the 3rd child of Irene. Was I planned? no clue, didn't ask. And can't now she's dead. I am Henry's 2nd child. No I wasn't suppost to know that but guess what I do know. so get over it.
No my parents wern't like everyone else, they fought all the time. Yes I remember it.
I also remember being sent to visit the neighbor, Mrs. Pader. She has passed on but was always nice to me. Or to visit Mrs. Curtis. Not sure what has happened to her. The other neighbor was from russia, yes the country. They grew goose berries I just LOVED to steal when they were on our side of the fence.
Dad worked at Tyler automatics, not sure if they are still there. He seemed to like his job mostly.
But this isn't about him, I'll do more for him on another page.
I remember my mother's mother being diabetic and having to take shot. Her leaning over and saying in a low voice "let hope you dont have to give yourself shots all the time"
Now my dad's mother was pretty cool. She treated me like one of the gang. I fit in everywhere! No one was bad in her eyes. She loved every one of her grand kids. Since she has to many kids herself it wasn't a big deal for us to go visit. Mother was as comfortable with it as she was.
There are several memories of my mother I want to put down. One was the day she gathers all us kids up, but this time there was 4 of us. And we ran away with the guy down the street to a place called Wolcott. That part of my memories is kinda blury but I'll do my best to remember.
Moving into the house, Bill telling us to hide so our dad couldn't find out. "if you see his car go hide in the woods" he said. I didn't understand why I would hide from my father but that's what he wanted so I did it. I didn't like the school there, more than once I got lost going back to the house. Then I would get punished for being stupid.
I remember when court happened too. Yes my parents got divorced in 1967. I also remember what was said in court. Those words are burned in my memory. She said "I dont want those little bastards" and walked out of the courtroom and out of our lives.
What could I have done or said to make her hate me? she must have or how could she say that? I did ask her years later and she ignored the question.
I was a child that needed her parents, yet they were not there. The burning of her clothes on the front lawn to show everyone she was gone. It didn't make sense when I was a child but it does now. Back in 67 there were very few single fathers with custody of 4 kids. He did what he could but he needed help. He asked his sister, Aunt Rita to give him a hand when my sister Debbie fell and broke her hip. She did help, Carol, Laurie and myself stayed with her till the courts found out. Debbie was placed in a childrens home near New Haven they said till her hip healed.Then Laurie was put with her god parents, that's what they were for right? But she didn't stay there. The state took custody of us and placed us in foster care. Care is the wrong word for some of those places.
I asked if I could talk to my mom, got told "she dont wanna talk to you" . How could she not like me? what did I do? Does this mean she hates me? How can a real mother turn her back on her children? There has to be a mistake. She wouldn't do that? would she? I spent many hours thinking of what I did to make my mother not care. Hell of a childhood.
My Aunt lost custody of Carol and myself. Not going to explain that just say she is single and still single to this day. I was now bouncing from foster home to foster home. I wanted to be with my dad, but that wasn't possible. Dad didn't have anyone to help him at his house. I was told dad couldnt read so it would be best if you didnt try to go live with him. And me like an idiot believed them.
So I tried to get my mom to let me live with her. She had since married and had a 2 bedroom apartment. Well it wasn't exactly 2 bedroom like you'd think. It was 2 bedrooms yes, and a kitchen. That was the whole place. Books stacked all over. Magazines towered over the beds and covered any surface you could stack them. Nope cleaning wasn't a thing you could do without bringing in a dumpster to throw out all the junk, well was junk to me.
I lived with them for almost a year in that tiny place. Trips to go see Bill's kids once in a while. But mostly I went to school and did homework. Till Bill eyed me one day. God knows I wish that day had never been. Mother was at the neighbors working on a cover for thier bed. I was in my room minding my own business. I was only 11 for crying out loud. How much trouble could I get into then? Turned out I could get in trouble, and not something anyone would dream would have happened to an 11 year old.
I was sitting on my bed doing homework. When Bill came in from work. He yelled to see where I was. I said right here, doing my homework. Then he yelled for my mother, no answer. Yelled again, Again no answer. Then asked, you know where she is? yes she is downstairs working on her project with the neighbor.
Next thing I know he's standing in my doorway. Watching me like a hungry cat watching a mouse. He said "I've been watching you and want to show you something"
Show me something? what in the world was he talking about?
Then he grabs my wrist and drags me to his face and starts kissing me? I fought as hard as I could. His hands were all over me! I tried to get away! I finally punched him in the face to get away and ran out the door to my mother downstairs! Oh my god what did he do that for? why did he make me wanna jump out the window to get away? Someone please help me understand.
Later that night when he went to sleep I went and asked my mother. Her response to this day is a shock I'll never get over. She said "he just wanted to show how much he loves you". I must have had one hell of a look on my face as I ran out the door! How could she said something like that? she think it's ok for that dirty old man to put his hands on me? why? it's not ok I want outta here! That was the last conversation I had with her for years.
Next morning I called the social worker and told her what happened and I was outta there!
Funny my mother thought it was ok but the social worker didn't. I ended up that afternoon at Children's Home of Cromwell, where I stayed for the next 4 years.
I ran away from there twice. They figured they couldn't take the time to keep finding me and let me leave. I went to stay with my cousin, no not going to name her name. She and her husband had troubles of thier own. It was there I started drinking. A friend that got me outta there, to try and save me. I stayed with her and her husband and daughter for about 6 months when the social worker said you can't stay there outta school. So I had to move again.
The next move was back to my Aunt Rita. Now I'm about full grown and can do whatever I want, within reason. I didn't drink while in her house. But I did smoke. Lesser of 2 evils so to speak.
Stayed there for about a year when my Aunt and Uncle in Maine asked me to come stay with them. They could get me a job. And I would be closer to my mother! At last I could talk to her and be family right? WRONG!
Yes mother lived in Maine with Bill. Yes she was footloose and fancy free. She had friends that she played Beeno with, it's like bingo for french folks. She had friends, one named Valerie that lived next door. I could go see her when I wasn't working, this was great!
God knows I wish it had been. I refused to be alone with Bill. I wasn't giving him another chance to go on the attack.
One day at work I was talking to one of the ladies and she was telling about Jeannie and her boyfriend. So I said who is this woman? could I know her? She explains who she is, and I freaked out. She was talking about my mother! I said she's my mother you know. Then the next dagger get thrusted in my heart. Mom had told them "I have no kids" ...what? I'm not real? are sure this is the same woman? I listened to stories about them making out, having sex at her friends house. It can't be my mother, can it? Made me sick to listen but I did to try and piece this together for the facts. Her boyfriend was married, with a son my age. This had been going on for 2 years when I found out about it.
When I confronted her with what I knew she said "but I couldn't tell them I had kids that would lead to way more questions" Oh so to feed your sex habit your children dont exist I got it. Dont mean I gotta like it but I understand.
Went to dinner with the guy I was dating, no I was not sleeping with him. When Bill turned his back she flirted with my boyfriend. I couldn't believe she did that right in front of my face!
Was the last dinner I had with her. I refused to bring anyone to meet her for fear of what she might do next.
about 6 months later I found out I was pregnant, didn't have to tell anyone was my business.
I did tell her, wanted to hear what she had to say. I was shocked at her saying "you dont need a kid get an abortion" When did I change my beliefs? How could she say that to me knowing I'm a catholic? I can't do that and didn't talk much to her for a while.
One night she showed up at my apartment, Rhonda was sleeping in the only bedroom. She wanted to use my apartment as the place she could bring her boyfriend and have sex. It made me sick! I told him no that and and added, "any pecker tracks on my sheets will be put there by me and only me" Ok it was tacky but dang someone had to let her know it wasn't a thing to do.
I didn't speak to her for a bunch of years again. I moved several times, and didn't bother to keep in touch for fear she would want me to cover for her. I'm not good at lying, I forget what I say and get all messed up so it's easier to tell facts as I know them. The next call I got was from my sister saying she was in the hospital. So I called. I wish I had not called. She said "there is Bill at the door I gotta go, he hates you" and she hung up. That was the last time I spoke to her.
So you can see I didn't have a mother my whole life. Mothers day is just another day. I didn't go to her funeral. The woman didn't respect me, so I'm going to fly to Maine and pay my respects? ARE YOU INSANE? I couldn't bring myself to live that lie.

