Children should be seen, not heard. Don’t be rude, give grandma a hug and a kiss. And at the top of the list, stop crying, or I’ll give you something to cry about.
These were constant rules I lived by growing up. Not that my parents were crazy strict, but they certainly lived by this tough love approach. I grew up holding in emotions, afraid to make mistakes or voice my opinion in fear of being disrespectful. I always believed this helped me to grow into the independent woman I had become.
I was always labeled as a good kid growing up. I know that I spent a lot of time being unhappy, afraid, and thinking that I was only lovable, only good when…
