Six Word Memoirs on Life Stories

Dhani says,

'It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while.'- from the Pulitizer prize-winning memoir 'Angela's Ashes' by Frank McCourt.

favepeep says,

Mostly stressful.

DynamicDbytheC says,

Both. Nice quote from Angela's Ashes.

Dhani says,

Mine was miserable for all the right reasons: over-protective mother AND over-protective paternal grandmother made me a DOUBLE-mama's boy, complicating early school life...

JAD says,

Happy.

Wench says,

Both. Had parents who loved me but not each other and two great siblings to play with. But I lost my grandmother to cancer when I was 11 and since my biological grandfather was dead and my step-grandfather wasn't, a very obvious divide quickly established itself between us and our half-cousins. That didn't play a huge role in my childhood, but it made me miss my grandmother a lot and wonder why we didn't 'count' anymore.

ba_miracle says,

Wench, that is an awful feeling for children ...not counting anymore especially after such a loss. I wish all "steps" realize that loving the whole family is part of the package.


Miserable with rays of happy. Mentally ill mother, Father passed away on my 4th or 5th bday, homelessness, violence, abuse, loss of siblings/family, foster care (many placements, shelters, juvenile hall and sometimes I just ran away), Drugs, dangerous behavior,
I was 16 when my friend Danith began sneaking me into her house, with her sister Mikel...They became my last foster family, my perfectly dysfunctional family but my mine for sure.
When I was 17 my then 24 year old boyfriend became paralyzed C5/6 when we were thrown from a car. My mom begged me not to take care of him but agreed that if I held my job and kept up with school, she would allow me to train at the hospital. I barely graduated high school (by my moms and teachers sheer will;-) and being the full time caregiver was a mental and physical challenge beyond explanation.

DynamicDbytheC says,

After reading ba-miracles I can say I had an almost perfect childhood. Similar to Wench, my parents loved us the best the could but were consumed by there own demons of alcohol and divorce.

accidentaltourist says,

I remember with pleasure all of the happy. The not so happy....well, that's the stuff for my therapist to figure out. :)

ba_miracle says,

DynamicDbytheC, I wouldn’t discount your experiences as compared to anyone else’s. There is nothing easy about being raised by people consumed with their own demons.

I will admit that my past did make coming to terms with God/religion, myself and humanity sometimes challenging...but we’re working it out ;-)

maryjane31 says,

Had big Irish Catholic family and felt pushed around alot. The nuns made my young life a complete misery. Mother took the nuns side. Father told me to toughen up. Older sister hit me often. Younger one stole things from me. Parents had too many kids to pay much attention except for my little brothers who were babies. Some good times but mostly I was not happy. I got happy when I went out on my own. My girlfriends saved me and that is where I got some supportivness.

Dhani says,

Wow, I'm impressed with the above open input to childhood memories, the good & the bad. I'm involved with a Power of Love & Forgiveness Campaign, where STORYTELLING is seen as a great basis for SELF-HEALING.

marymc says,

My brother never wanted a sister, so I was verbally abused and beaten on a regular basis. Mom lost interest after I stopped being cute and developed opinions that differed from hers (around 5). My dad threatened to send me away if I got fat. My 5 best friends we killed by a drunk driver when I was 15. I desperately needed help coping, but my parents wouldn't allow me to see anyone professionally. There were happy moments in between, but these events shaped who I became. I got married a month out of college so I wouldn't have to live there again.

Wench says,

I don't know where the official line between childhood and adolescence ends, but I had a decidedly chaotic adolescence and young adulthood. Sometimes happy, but usually on false and empty pretenses, a great deal of self-harm, either physically or by allowing toxic people to influence me, three plans for suicide and one real attempt. Drinking way too much, travelling way too much, staying with the wrong people and never telling anyone the whole truth. When I converted to Orthodoxy, I went to my first confession before my baptism and all I could do was cry. The priest didn't ask for more, I think he knew it was enough.

Dhani says,

Incredible insight into these beautiful souls' lives on this board,,,,

DynamicDbytheC says,

Great comments. Everyday, I read powerful memoirs from many of the above commenters and I think that these are strong people. I would never believe that so many of you had such challenges and tragic events as children. Marymc, I am so GLAD you had opinions that differed from your mom's by age 5. Mine started around age 6. And mine differed from the entire town where I lived. ba-miracle a nice thing to say. Our family did have some solid moments before my parents' (I said there/meant their) alcoholism progressed. Dhani, great question and I feel closer to everyone who commented. Thanks for your candor.

canadafreeze says,

I had a loving mother, but an emotionally abusive step father who had his own demons and was an alcoholic. He told me often that I was ugly and I was stupid and everything wrong was my fault. I was whispered about behind my back by relatives. I was never told what the big secret was - the thing everyone knew but me. IT has given me much fodder for writing.
I never knew my birth father, so I always imagined he was better than the one I got. I've used humor and the proverbial rose tinted glasses to see things the way I wish they'd be. I'm damaged, but quite functional. Reading and writing have been my solace. Music saves my soul.

Dhani says,

Canada -love what you posted...reading, writing, music are all good for the SOUL -add also to your self-resurrecting 'menu' the simple, human and DELIBERATE act of forgiveness.

Believe says,

I had a perfect childhood. My mother gave me the childhood that was the complete opposite of her own, the value of which has never been lost on me. I have known pain, but it wasn't in my childhood.

Heem08 says,

How was my childhood? There was always fireworks exploding in the home I grew up at. Dad was usually drunk than my parents will argue. Bonnie my sister would be frighten and ran out of the house crying. After dad exited the house for Florida, Bonnie was doing drugs and partying. She ran away from home for awhile. No wonder I was so anxous to leave. I left for the navy a day after high school graduation.

jl333 says,

I had the best childhood ever. I wouldn't change a thing. Came from divorced family and had the best of both worlds!

Dhani says,

Referring specifically to those memoirists who judge their childhood as 'great!'...it's ironical, if you read biography or autobiography like I do, that many of the great personages of human history had a perfectly miserable childhood! It's like their growing years were akin that piece of grit that irriates the oyster who then creates the PEARL....(APROPOS to this, as I am 'into' reincarnation: one of my past lives was as a young rich Englishman in the 19th century who aspired to become a great painter, but he (me!)-a rich dude who lacked for nothing!- turned out to be a mediocrity...

MariaMaria says,

Happy/Blessed. From family night on Fridays to camping on Sundays..I am very grateful.

MsKillie says,

Very happy! My family always had just enough despite the tight funds. My parents stuck together through thick and thin. My favorite memories are all the silly roadtrips we went on; they instilled in me a huge Wanderlust!