How an Emotionally Abused Child Is Becoming a Confident Adult

This is my story and what I’m doing to move forward

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When I was growing up, my biological father would toy with my emotions.

One day I was his best friend, wonderful daughter and little tomboy. The next day I was the bad child who was always misbehaving.

Sometimes he’d punish the entire household when I did something wrong.

He‘d disconnect the cable or not let anyone play a video game. The root cause was my bad behaviour.

It didn’t take long for it to distance me from my sisters. I felt like I didn’t belong. I was a problem child, a disappointment.

They felt resentment towards me.

On the outside, things looked normal. In this Halloween picture, you see me smiling, dressed as a witch with my two sisters. Photo credit: Author

At family gatherings, my dad would poke at me and press all my buttons until I exploded. Then he’d swoop in like some kind of hero, to save everyone from my temper tantrum.

He’d shout my name out for everyone to hear.

Kylie! Get over here and stop behaving so terribly. We’re visiting family and this is what you do!