I have known it for some time but now I am understanding it from the view of being a child and that really does help. I’m so glad I have my provider who takes such good care of me. She also is not judgmental and doesn’t carry a grudge. I’m in sz heaven here.
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i figured out young that my parents and brother were all mentally ill. especially my parents. my mother is bipolar and my dad is sza. i remember the inappropriate behavior, outrageous emotional reactions and the fights among my parents. i remember once when i was little my mom telling me she didn’t love me. i remember the fights about my parents cheating.
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I have a cousin who is mentally ill. She also has mild retardation.
You are lucky you were aware so young. I was only scared of mine. I didn’t want to do anything but get away. That got a catch 22 when mother stated that she was afraid I’d never grow up. Her lazy assumption that it wouldn’t help any if she’d get involved with my life.
my therapist suggested and likes the idea that i don’t talk to my parents because of the emotional abuse they put me through
I noticed the lack of recognition. Why have anything to do with them when they don’t recognize you anyway?
you have a good point @PinCushion they didn’t send me a message or phone call for my birthday. so they blocked me on facebook so i didn’t send a message to them why should i reach out to them
I think the “American dream” of the family is greatly overrated. If you don’t get along with your family you tend to be stigmatized. On the other hand, I think society is gradually accepting that the American dream was only that, a dream.
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@PinCushion, do you live in a group home?
Yes I think that she does live in a Group Home @LilyoftheValley.
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Yes, I live in an Adult Foster Care home. It’s the most successful living arrangement I’ve known yet.
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And they treat you well there?
My mother was also mentally ill. When I was 12ish and started having my own issues I sort of recognized it, but thought it was just depression or something because I didn’t know much and she hid it all. But as an adult now I know it’s pretty severe OCD. She was miserable to live with growing up and we still don’t get along.
The perfect american family was iconic of the 50’s. Sexual revolution, californian 60’s counter-culture, drugs of the 80’s and globalization of the 90’s until now have completely erased this iconic image. And the american dream has been dog-eared.
Yes, they do. I’ve been here 13 1/2 years.
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I’m so glad to hear that. 
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What’s an adult foster home? A home for foster kids above 18 or something?
No. Just a home for adults who can’t take care of ourselves well enough to be independent.
That’s also true of my father. He was an exemplary father, except for one terrible fault.