I Fixed My Relationship With My Parents But Now I Have No Excuse For Being A Bitch

Sure, I grew up with toxic parents, cry myself to sleep often, and have had one tumultuous relationship after another but the social license it gave me was worth it. Hysterical outbursts? Random neglect of all responsibilities for weeks at a time? Totally acceptable once I explained I had childhood trauma. My life was great!

Everyone knew I deserved special treatment. They had to forgive me when I “acted out.” It was beyond my control. Even employers stopped getting on me once I told them I had “trouble at home”. For the holidays I’d be tagged in stories saying things like, ”Thinking of the strongest girl I know today. Such an inspiration”, “Not everyone has a family to go to. Love ya girlie!” If I was ever bored I needed only to send a cryptic text to a friend then leave them on read. “OMG, are you OK? I’ll be right there”, they’d say then show up with soup or something.

I knew this would be a lifelong struggle, or so I hoped. I had learned to fully accept my “mommy and daddy issues” when my therapist suggested having them join in on sessions. After a few months, things changed. I began to see my parents as real people instead of the artificial villains I had created in my head. What a mistake that was!

I usually tell my boyfriend he can’t leave me because he’s all I have. Right before I could throw his phone through the TV yesterday, he reminded me that I have a fairly good relationship with my parents now, that I’d be just fine. He even yelled at me to stop smashing his guitars.

He’s right, I’ve even started visiting them. The sound of game nights are now punctuated by the dearth of what was once a relentless chiming of texts asking if I’m “hanging in there”. These days all I can hear is the mocking laughter of my parents having a good time with me.

Now that everyone knows we’re on speaking terms, they’ve stopped tagging me in their stories, dropping by with food, and defending my emotional blackmail. Typically I invite myself to my ex’s wife’s house for Thanksgiving because she’s always felt sorry for me. This year she said I should start spending it with my “actual family”. What a b@$#*! Ever since my family and I have gotten closer I’ve never felt so alone in my life.