© (2006) Vicki Polin, MA, LCPC and Na’ama Yehuda, MSC, SLP, TSHH
Originally published in The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter
We have all been taught from a very early age to honor our mothers and fathers. This lesson can be extremely complicated for survivors of childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
Each year when "Mother's Day"
comes around, certain expectations come along with it. All of us whose
mothers are still alive are called to honor and reaffirm our love and
appreciation for an individual who brought us into this world; a person
who made numerous selfless sacrifices in her own life to raise happy and
healthy children and support them through their path to adulthood.
Unfortunately for survivors of childhood abuse, this day can be
extremely difficult and confusing: for how does one spend a day seeped
in honoring someone who had failed to live up to the very archetype of
unconditional protection that the day celebrates and who at times may
have been the very person responsible for the abuse?
Jonathan, a survivor, wrote us:
"Growing up my brothers and I would buy our mother presents. It was expected that our family would spend the day together and come evening my father would take us all out to dinner. Once I became an adult and started dealing with my abuse issues, it became difficult for me to attend family functions, especially this family function.How was I to honor the very woman who was my offender? It's taken me years to be able to say 'I am a survivor of Mother-Son incest.' To this day my mother has never apologized for sexually assaulting me...and so I struggle honoring the kind of mother she is. This makes Mother's day a difficult day for me."
Nancy wrote:
"My mother was always very abusive to me as I was growing up. She even blamed me for her boyfriend raping me when I was eight-years-old! From that time on I'd tried being the perfect little girl; hoping that one day she'd forgive me... Every year as Mother's Day approached I'd go to our local card store and spend hours searching for the perfect card that will tell my mother how much she meant to me. I guess I figured that if I could find the right card she would start to love me again...When I turned eighteen I moved out on my own. This was also the year when I first entered therapy. It got to be very difficult for me to buy my mom a Mother's Day card... For a few years I just got cards that were funny, but then it didn't feel right to do that anymore, either. Because you see, even the funny cards ended up saying stuff like 'what a great mom you were'... Finally I found a recovery bookstore that sold greeting cards and believe it or not they had cards that specialized in dealing with the very 'card-issues' those of us from 'dysfunctional families' have! I now send her cards that acknowledges the fact she gave birth to me, spent money raising me, and so forth; but don't go on to say how great a parent she was."
With
the messages of picture-perfect mothering practically everywhere,
Mother's Day is a time of year when it is NOT uncommon for survivors to
have painful memories reemerge. When this happens a survivor may find it
safer to retreat than to participate in family functions (especially if
the abuse wasn't acknowledge along with the complicated feelings that
being hurt or unprotected by someone you love and depended on can bring
up). It is important that survivors find what works best for them in
order to stay emotionally healthy. While one survivor may find shunning
Mother's Day altogether the safest, another may find that they do want
to spend some time with their family, but set some boundaries as to how
long they stay or where they spend this time. Other survivors may find
it easier to make a phone call than to see their mother in person.
Others yet may want to spend the day with friends or mentors. Some
survivors have made Mother's day an opportunity for giving--they
volunteer in orphanages and children's homes, call their local nursing
home to find if there are residents without families who may appreciate a
visitor on a day when other residents have family come, or spend time
with an elderly or lonely neighbor. What is most important is that each
person be kind to themselves, no matter what they decided. If you have a
survivor in your family--you can help support them by respecting their
decision, especially if they decide not to participate.
Marleen said:
"Every year when 'Mother's Day' approaches I get together with a group of my friends who are all survivors and we honor each other for helping ourselves re-parent ourselves."
Lou shared:
"Mother's Day has always been a very difficult day for me. My mother was not my offender, but I know she was more than aware of the physical violence that went on in our home. She'd be sitting there watching TV as my father chased me around the room and then beat me with his belt. I cannot honor my mother. However, I do celebrate Mother's Day with my wife and children--my wife is a wonderful woman and mother. I don't know where I'd be today if it weren't for having such a kind and loving life-partner."
If you know someone who is a survivor
of childhood abuse, it may be a good idea to check on them a few times
on Mother's Day and let them know you understand.
If you are a survivor, maybe find a friend who is free and spend time with them. Remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Mother's
Day can be difficult not only because of its topic. Sometimes the day
itself carries memories of pain. Holidays are a time when families tend
to get together and routines are changed. There's often added stress of
traveling, cleaning, and preparing meals. In healthy families this
stress translates mostly as excitement and anticipation. Unfortunately,
however, dysfunctional parents who are already inclined to use their
children as an outlet for emotions and urges, are often even more likely
to do so when under increased stress and anxiety. Many survivors of
childhood abuse report that their abuse intensified around and during
holidays, including Mother's Day.
Symptoms of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
can at times intensify around holidays, or get temporarily triggered
even after periods of relative remission. If you experience an increase
in disturbing thoughts, nightmares and flashbacks, try to remind
yourself that these intrusions are about the past, that the abuse is
over, and that the most important thing you can do for yourself is to be
kind and gentle with yourself. If you find yourself beset by thoughts
of self-harm or even suicide--reach out. Call a friend, a therapist, a
hotline. You don't need to manage these overwhelming feelings alone.
Whatever
you decided to do, remember that this is your life to live and that
things can change with time--you may never want to have anything to do
with your family or the holiday ever again, or you may find that several
years down the road you are ready to make new or partial plans. You are
not wrong or bad for having second and third and forth thoughts about
if and how to celebrate holidays--any holiday! Look into yourself and
identify what it is you need, then do your best to do it. Be kind to
yourself as you make the adjustments you need to make.
And...most importantly...Todah Rabah for Surviving!
