So I have to know - do you like this sister now?

I also have a three strikes your out sort of rule - my therapist tells me it’s one of the reasons I’m high functioning! It’s a good strategy - they do it once and you give them another chance. They do it again and you realize it’s too much effort. That’s healthy!!

I find some books in this area aren’t great reads; the authors somehow make it about them? Which I found weird. But that book really validated me and made me feel like it wasn’t all in my head (ha!). Good luck!!!

Turn taking is so important! We implemented a three year rule (each family could expect a visit every three years, his/mine/year off. Works really well!)

I heard it on the radio recently with a plug for it now being “Canadian owned”. Seriously weird as it is etched in my brain as forever part of an American childhood.

You should ask for a swap back now?

My extended family on my fathers side had gathered together for a big family dinner - aunts, uncles, cousins, the works. As we were prepping to sit down one of my Aunts leaned over to my eldest brother who was maybe 24 at the time and said “I see you’re losing your hair already! Well, you didn’t get that from OUR side…

In modern times, that would have been photographed and shared on facebook.

I am so sorry, what a terrible experience.

Wow!! My dad would totally do this.

I have many many shitty Christmas stories but one of my fav dates back to my student days. I had recently started grad school and was so so poor. My partner-at-the-time and I still felt obligated to be with our families for the holidays even though they lived over a thousand miles apart. We had no money but my parents…

Aw, wish I hadn’t lost the burner key for gingerorginged (ha!!). I honestly never thought of it was vindictive but you absolutely nailed it. Insightful!

My dad once told me that every traffic light is a race. This idiotic statement stuck with me for life as so many parts of this story (blood type on the car! Dismissive statements about your observations! Wondering what is lost in translation! Etc etc etc.). Good indeed.

There’s just something about his face. Like why is he blushing? I’m trying to understand, his expression makes me think he’s angry but also embarrassed. It just aggravates the hell out of me.

That anyone can take this guy seriously after Crossfire is beyond me. I leave this for enjoyment:

Send them an email? I’m the angry letter writing type.

Well on the day I did my shitty Christmas post, I lost at least three before I managed to get my shit together with screen caps of keys and remembering what usernames I had come up with. My old name was or_ginger - that account is attached to one of my emails but for some reason my phone just can’t use? I don’t know,…

That sounds deeply satisfying. After I went a few years No Contact with my parents, I started giving away the things they had given me and it was so liberating. Especially when it was garbage they felt was valuable that I should want. Should have smashed some of it.

I also have a raging asshole brother that shamelessly took money from my poor (much poorer than him) parents. I was recently told he had a kid (now kids) and my first reaction was disappointment. When I got called out for this, I just said “I thought he had enough self awareness that he knew he’d be a terrible…

I find myself trying to find something witty but really, I just wish deep karmic justice on this raging asshole.