I visited my mother at the end of August (of 2021).

At one point, unprompted by me, and in a moment when my husband was alone with her, he told her how proud he is of me, how successful he thinks I am, how he sees that I help so many people. He really bragged on me.

He had asked me ahead of time if it would be okay if he did this. Because as a father, he finds it...curious? Strange? That my mother seems to show no interest in who I am on anything other than a surface level.

Many years ago her lack of interest in me hurt and offended me (and he remembers this). And then I discovered a lot of freedom for myself in it.

For many reasons – including because I know I am far from alone and in this regard – I no longer take it personally.

When my husband told me about his conversation with my mother, he said she seemed to be in disbelief, that she seemed to want to contradict what he was saying about me.

I replied, "My perception is that it's hard for her to have her opinion of me challenged. And one of her opinions of me (again, this is my perception) is that I am a weak and ineffectual person."

Later, when we were all together again, she told the story of how, when I was an infant with a fever of a 106, the doctor told her to put me in a cold bath so I wouldn't get brain damage.

"I guess it didn't work," she said with what I know to be her "teasing" face.

I didn't respond. No one did.

"Just kidding," she said. Ha ha ha.

She went on to tell more stories about how I am just like my father, whom, she has made it clear many times over the years, she didn't like or respect.

It was almost as if she had to restore her story about me and knock me down a few pegs in the face of conflicting evidence.

"The way you see any individual in your mind is the best they can ever be in your presence." ~ John Overdurf

The whole thing reminded me of the way her father, my grandfather, used to recount the story of how she "flunked out of college after her freshman year because she majored in bridge and boys."

Ha ha ha.

This is called leaning on someone's bruise. My grandfather was good at it. So is my mother.

I actually remember the last time I heard my grandfather say that to her. About 20-ish years ago in a room full of family, including her new husband and his son.

I remember, later, finding her upstairs in her bedroom crying about it. I remember her saying how much she wanted her father's attention and approval.

I remember trying to make her feel better.

I remember times in my life when I leaned on the bruises of people I love.

~~~

You might be expecting me to tell you that her words meant nothing to me....that I was completely unaffected. Because I am a life coach who knows how to manage her mind and emotions.

No. I was affected. I was hurt because I am a human who is sensitive to cruelty. And I was angry because I no longer allow myself to be shamed.

In that quiet moment after her "ha ha ha," I leaned into Dignity (one of the three pillars that uphold my self concept, which in turns informs my boundaries) by remembering:

#1 I do not deserve to be spoken to that way.

#2 I don't engage with, or give my energy to, people who speak to me like that.

#3 I don't internalize what she believes or says about me (although I certainly used to).

Here's the advanced boundary setting part: for the rest of our visit, I shifted my energy away from her. I didn't look at her much. I kept my body slightly turned away. I was cool.

If "healthy boundaries are your values in action" (thank you Randi Buckley), then this was Dignity in action.

~~~

On the car ride home I cried.

I grieved for my loss of a mother who might see me as I am and I grieved her loss of a father (and mother) who might see her as she is.

~~~

Here's what I know for sure: changing the way you experience the relationship – taking care of yourself in the relationship – isn't about never being hurt or angry.

It's not about not taking a cruel "joke" personally.

It's about holding yourself in such high regard that you remove yourself from cruel and abusive situations in a way that serves YOU.

I respect the way I handled myself. It served me to respond the way I did. I am so proud of myself.

It's okay to take things personally.

Being sensitive isn't a problem.

It's only painful when we think it shouldn't be.

And we tend to "overreact" when we think we have to defend who we are.

Much, much love,
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Karen

Elevate your boundaries at the Healthy Boundary Workshop: Saturday, November 12, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Eastern. Click here to register.

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