7 Deadly Words By My Mother

Summary

The author recounts a childhood lived in fear due to their mother's threatening words and a dysfunctional family dynamic, which has led to ongoing tension with their parents who now view them as an unambitious writer.

Abstract

The article titled "7 Deadly Words By My Mother" delves into the author's experience of growing up in an environment filled with emotional manipulation and fear, stemming from their mother's frequent threats of waiting for their father's disciplinary action. These words, described as toxic, deeply affected the author, who identifies as a sensitive and introverted individual. The family's emotional immaturity, particularly the father's absence and occasional outbursts, contributed to a household where the author and their sisters felt perpetually on edge. Despite the father's rare involvement, his manipulative comments about his potential early demise further strained the family relationships. Now, as a 32-year-old still living with their parents, the author faces disapproval from them, who doubt the viability of a writing career.

Opinions

The author perceives their mother's words as emotionally damaging and a form of psychological terror.
The father is portrayed as emotionally distant and occasionally manipulative, using guilt to control his children.
The author suggests that growing up in a dysfunctional family can lead to becoming an artist or developing neurotic tendencies.
There is a sense of resignation and misunderstanding between the author and their parents regarding the author's career choice and ambitions.

How I lived in terror during my childhood

“You just wait! Let your father come!”

Everytime I would cause trouble, my mother would yell those 7 words. Each sound of those toxic words would pierce through my being and scare the living day lights out of me. It’s enough to destroy a child, without hitting them.

I was always a deeply sensitive and an introverted fellow. My parents who were not emotionally mature, did not know how to handle me, or my sisters for that matter. Growing up in a dysfunctional household can be traumatising, but it also gives you enough exposure to become an artist — if not the latter, then you would probably end up neurotic.

My father who was always busy with his work, friends and chores, would come back home, tired as a horse, and would ignore my mother and sleep. Sometimes, he would scream and ask us to listen to our mother. There were days, when my sisters and I, had to listen to his occasional rant. He would emotionally manipulate us by saying, “I won’t live too long, you three will have to take care of your mother.” As soon as he would start crying, we would hug him, and behave for a few hours. The next day, things would pretty much return to normal.

Now, at 32, I am still living with ym parents, who have pretty much given up on me. They truly believe that I am a writer with no ambition, and there is no future in that profession.