It’s Ap-parent That Some People Shouldn’t Be Parents

My mom’s face is pock-marked from various medical issues she’s had in her life, and she is humiliated by this. It’s been this way for as long as I can remember, so I never think anything of it. But I’ve always known it’s bothered her.

Her mother was a cruel, petty person. She despised my mother and went out of her way to make sure my mother knew she wasn’t wanted. I lived with this grandmother for years as a child and, later, as her caretaker. Please note that at no time did she ever begin to have ANY age-related mental declines to “explain her behavior”. She was just always a mean person.

Grandmother: “We’re going to do a family photo, [My Name], so you need to pick out a nice dress and do your makeup.”

Me: “You can get me in a dress, but you won’t be getting makeup on me.”

Grandmother: “Well, your cousins will be in makeup! I expect you to be, too! Everyone has to.”

Me: “Mom doesn’t like makeup; it doesn’t sit right on her face. You know this.”

Grandmother: “Oh, bull! She could actually be pretty if she put in any effort! It’s not my fault she’s got those ugly holes in her face, and she knows it!”

Me: “I’d rather have ‘ugly holes’ in my face like Mom than ugly holes in my heart.”

She refused to speak to me for the rest of the day. Win.