28 Comments
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🐠🌊ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ʙᴇɪɴɢ's avatar

I'm proud of you!!! If that means anything. You are such a sweet, intelligent , and sensitive man. Such a rare find. The world needs more people like you and less people like your dad 💔

Elijah Westin's avatar

Thank you 🫶 it has taken a long ass time and a lot of inner work to get here.. but I am here and that's what matters

Dad isn't a bad person. He did his best with what he knew. A lot of people don't have fathers that cared or tried

Unfortunately what he knew wasn't awesome. He showed he cared by working very hard. Thats about it

Thanks for reading!

🐠🌊ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ʙᴇɪɴɢ's avatar

I understand why you see him that way but I believe parents are supposed to protect and love us and when they don't, they didn't provide the bare minimum.

Elijah Westin's avatar

Forgiving them and understanding that they didn't intend to be shitty has been part of my healing

Yes they didn't provide the bare minimum. I didn't go into detail about both their absenses and the fact we didn't have basic necessities at home

But they didn't know better. And when they did they were too stuck in their own bullshit to fix it.

They were raised without it. Same with their parents. Generationam

Doesn't make it ok. Just gives me the space to move on and create the boundaries and healthy coping mechanisms to never be that way.. gives me the space to break the Generational trauma

It still hurts sometimes though, and thats why I write about it..

🐠🌊ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ʙᴇɪɴɢ's avatar

I'm glad you've found a perspective that has helped you heal. That's what matters most. I have a different way of looking at some of this, but this isn't the place for that. Thank you for trusting us with something so personal. 🩷🩷🩷🩷

Elijah Westin's avatar

Absolutely

What works for me doesn't work for everyone.. what matters is finding what works for you.

Anger was what i had for a long time but that burned me

Sorrow for a long time but that burned me

Dissapointment for a long time. Still have some but it burnt me

Forgiveness is the only thing that's truly worked for me when it comes to the hard stuff..

🐠🌊ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ʙᴇɪɴɢ's avatar

Maybe that's what I need to do as well, but I'm not ready for that. I just see all of this from such a different perspective. Right now, intent doesn't change the outcome for me. I don't have human children but the way I care for my dogs reinforced my standards. I have been incapable to care for them on occasion (mentally and physically) and still figured it out. My shortcomings are never theirs. My belief is, if something matters to you, you figure it out, because I always have.

Jacqueline Billy's avatar

Thank you Elijah for writing that very difficult piece. I feel badly for you not getting what you wanted when you were young and for still wanting it now. If your parents were hurt themselves and didnt know how to show you their love, I imagine that their parents also did not know how to show them.

I feel so badly for you. You just wanted them to be proud of you. That desire is normal I believe. You didn’t have the right role models, yet you are choosing not to be the way they were with you. You are independent because you have to be and that is very mature, although it is ok to accept help when offered!

I think you are doing great and

developing into a fine writer. I loved the poem you did with Imi.

Leonorra Dainler's avatar

Oh this broke my heart . All I could hear through your adult pain was the tiny voice of you at

7 years of age just looking up begging for acknowledgment of you just being there, being you . Such a painful, but beautiful read . It shows that childhood speaks forever. Thank you for sharing.

Elijah Westin's avatar

Truly it does. A huge part of my healing has been embracing that inner child

Thank you for reading!

Mark ✌️💙🫂's avatar

Very vulnerable piece. I'm sorry that you gave to live this. Hopefully you find peace

Elijah Westin's avatar

I have a lot more peace then i did. I've forgiven them. Still struggle to move on sometimes..

HP NOT LOVECRAFT's avatar

This was an amazing experience to read

Jamie Lee Hodgkin's avatar

Then what woman ever will?...many,

Jamie Lee Hodgkin's avatar

I also appreciate the lonely line of "I love you" --this is true stoicism

Thirty Poems's avatar

😭

Becky Wilburn's avatar

My heart feels raw. And it bleeds for you, Elijah. I’m so VERY, VERY sorry 😞

Elijah Westin's avatar

It's ok Becky. In It's own twisted way it made me into the man I am today

Becky Wilburn's avatar

And what a MAGNIFICENT man you are, Elijah!!❤️😊

Lawrence Omoregie Jr's avatar

Hi Elijah, this is really beautiful

Melts my heart.

Where have you been all my life.

Totally loved it.

I like to connect with poets here

As a poetry lover, I just subbed and glad I found you again

I'd like if you could check out my piece and kindly connect (Sub) back if it sticks.

I promise you'd love it.

https://lawrenceomoregiejr.substack.com/p/to-my-substack-family-561?r=3g3d4k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

https://lawrenceomoregiejr.substack.com/p/the-abuser?r=3g3d4k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Do have a great read and a lovely new week

As we grow together here

Lawrence Omoregie Jr's avatar

Lovely

Matty Macaroo's avatar

It's like you've put the little boy version of yourself on your bigger, stronger, better shoulders and let him see that he will make it and the view only gets better. That's really powerful! ❤️‍🩹

Elijah Westin's avatar

It really does get better. Appreciate you..

Melanie's avatar

Thank you. No, it’s not linear. Great piece!

Elijah Westin's avatar

Thank you Melanie!