Shortly after they married my mom got pregnant with twins but she lost them and stepfather and his mother said it was my fault.
Then when I was 11 they sent me to live with a couple who they said wanted a girl. After a year with them I was sent back to my moms and stepfathers who then sent me to live with my father and brother. Then I was back at my mothers and I told her what my father tried to do while I was there.
So at 12yrs of age they had me put in the local jail they said to protect me from my father. Yes JAIL with 6 cots hanging from the cement walls with chains and picnic tables with benches was in the center. Cold shower and a slot in the door for food. I was the only one in there and I cried every night for two weeks.
When I finally got out I was sent to a foster home that was filthy. Eventually ended back at my mom's and step-fathers and he and I would go round and round. One time when I wouldn't eat the ice cream (long story) he beat me with and electric cord. Another time I wouldn't wear a pair of shoes because the strap was broke. He had my brother take me to the juvenile home.
He sent me to homes to be their live in baby sitter house cleaner. I rebelled, so at 16 he took me to court and had me declared an "incorrigible" child and I was sent to a Reform School for 9 months. (Yes back in the 50's they could do all these horrible things to their children) Believe it or not I didn't mind being there because for the first time I had some stability in my life
. Of course after I was released it was back to my mothers and step-fathers.
Trying to find love somewhere I then became pregnant so was sent to Booth Memorial Hospital run by the Salvation Army to have my baby I was there for 6 months and the Salvation Army people were so kind. I KEPT MY BABY (the only one out of 100 women there who did) they were not going to take him away from me. Being I was no longer where the father knew I was living, but since removed he never tried to find out where, and I never told him I was pregnant.
After my baby was born it was back to my mom's and step-fathers and more of being kicked out then "You better get back here because your mother needs you". My mother was so insecure and she became sickly (Hypochondriac)
The ONE and only good thing my stepfather did for me was to introduce my husband to me. My husband was the kindest man I could ever have wished for. We had 60 years together and I miss him terribly.
I probably shouldn't be pouring all this out, but I have held it in for so long. I know it damaged me to some extent. I find it hard to have empathy. I don't cry as I cried it all out in those 2 weeks. Even though my parents did all those things after I was married I would have them come for holiday dinners, etc; I do miss the hugs my mother would give me. I feel so sorry for her that her life was not a happy one with the two men she chose to live it with.
Share on if it helps you get better and move on.
I wish I could hug you in person!
My mother didn’t have much use for me.
She basically undermined me in every way possible
but it pales in comparison to what you went through!
Lots of hugs from me. You had a difficult life.
Wow. What a story.
God doesn’t give us more than we can handle. You must be a very strong person.
I’ve had a few phone calls during this rally, so stopped the tape. I’m about 20 minutes behind at this point.
I remember your story of why you are called Spunky but from your life story I can see just where that SPUNK came from.
Bless you for enduring such a horrific childhood.
And PTL for giving you 60 years with a wonderful loving husband.
(((((Spunky)))))
What a sad story. I’m so glad you survived that horrible childhood and found someone kind who could love you and take better care of you. I’m sure that was very healing.
Spunky, thank you for sharing you story.
You are an amazingly strong woman.
Keeping your baby at that time and under those circumstances was an incredible thing to do.
I remember reading about how you cared for your husband in hisfonal months and thinking what a strong person you were then.
I admire you so.
f:: I probably shouldn’t be pouring all this out, but I have held it in for so long. ::
I might have a small inkling about that. My gosh...you hit highlights...I can’t imagine the in-betweens...the everyday living hell you’ve gone thru.
I didn’t want to talk about things...it brings all that stuff back up into the present.
Re-Feel the lifetime of shame - shame being an outside job that cut to who I am.
The lifetime of guilt for what I did...guilt being an inside job that cut to what I did.
Guilt is a good thing. Shamed by someone kills the soul, the spirit, out of someone.
Especially a kid? There is a special circle in hell for that someone.
Better to bury it so deep where the sun doesn’t shine.
All that did was let it fester.
And I became as sick as my secrets.
My childhood means of survival no longer worked as an adult.
It took courage for you to take that first step.
It sounds like we are more than a minor few(geezers at that) here on this thread, who have a story to tell.
I believe we ALL have a story to tell. And I am sorry if I missed anyone who chimed in.
We aren’t alone, yet yes we are...
I think I’ll shut up now