Category: Mother’s Day

Three Must-Read Posts for Mother’s Day If You’re an Adult Survivor of Emotional Child Abuse

May 12, 2018

Advertisements on TV and the radio go over the top in portraying all mothers as idealized heroic women who did absolutely every single thing right. Motherhood, however, is far more complex and grittier than those bleached versions of it. It’s a vocation that, when approached right, requires maternal sacrifice, encourages a selfless love from the … More Three Must-Read Posts for Mother’s Day If You’re an Adult Survivor of Emotional Child Abuse

You Don’t Owe Your Toxic Mother a Card, Candy, or Quality Time on Mother’s Day

May 1, 2017

Whenever you see your mother, she belittles you, emotionally abuses you, treats you like a peasant, and demands to be fawned over like a queen. After you spend time with her, whether in person or on the phone or even reading an email from her, you feel very, very tiny and insignificant. You hurt inside, … More You Don’t Owe Your Toxic Mother a Card, Candy, or Quality Time on Mother’s Day

Four Sanity-Saving Tips for Ignoring Mother’s Day

May 5, 2016

How should you celebrate Mother’s Day when your mother was emotionally abusive? Short answer: You don’t have to celebrate it. Short answer for adult survivors who are mothers: You celebrate your being a mom, and you reflect, pray, and learn about being a better one every day. Last year, I wrote about celebrating Mother’s Day … More Four Sanity-Saving Tips for Ignoring Mother’s Day

How Do You Handle Mother’s Day When Your Mother Was Abusive?

May 9, 2015

TV ads this weekend make all mothers ready for instant canonization… but as readers of The Invisible Scar know, not all mothers are good mothers. So, how do handle a day dedicated to motherhood when your own mother was abusive and so not worthy of gifts or cards? You have two choices: Ignore the day … More How Do You Handle Mother’s Day When Your Mother Was Abusive?