Childhood

Michael Caruso Was Different
Michael Caruso Was Different Mid-1980s West Fort Lauderdale was, by and large, a “God and Guns” jerkwater. My housing block ended where the Everglades began. Davie, a city not half an hour’s drive from my home, held Saturday morning streetside Klan coteries during daylight hours. At best, the biome was inconducive to intellectualism and/or independent thinking. At worst, it was downright inhospitable.
By Chris Z3 years ago in Confessions
The camp experience from Hell
I very much wish this story was a fictional tale, but sadly this is all taken from my experience. Due to many other subjects, the Summer of 2001, for me, was extremely difficult. One of the several was surviving Camp Flaming Arrow. Everyone in our friends and family circle swore it was the best camp ever. From their reliable and caring staff, to their educational and safe environment. It was a haven for all children.
By Julianne Algueseva4 years ago in Confessions
The Shadowed Trauma
I have been trying to figure out what's so special in me, what value I hold. The more I think, the blanker my mind goes. Perhaps it is all of the mental and physical abuse I was forced to endure. All of her random episodes, those are what have caused me to look at myself and say you're nothing, you're miserable, you're a mistake.
By Stheno 4 years ago in Confessions
Dark Secret’s
I remember being this sweet little girl who was never fearful of anything , and was always one to make people smile. Although my childhood was not the brightest and best I made what I could of it. A little backstory to my life is I was brought up and raised by two immigrant parents who migrated from Mexico. They were both crossed over at the ages of 5 and 7, they ended up in a small town in Madera, CA. They eventually met and became high school sweethearts which led to me being born the oldest out of 5 beautiful girls . Since my parents were very young and almost out of high school I spent most of my time with my grandmother and my 5 year old sister at the time . I would always enjoy my time with her. But one day she brought a man home with her and I never knew what a man was capable of doing to a child untill I met him . When I first met my grandmothers boyfriend I had a sick and odd feeling in my stomach, at 7 years old I’ve never experienced such discomfort around being another person . This day that I am going to explain is the day that will constantly haunt me into my adulthood life. It was a regular summer night and at the time my grandmother lived in a RV motor park home . She was heading out to the store and insisted on taking me and leaving my 5 year old sister with this man . I refused for that to happen and told her to take my sister instead and I will stay . I ask myself to this day why didn’t she just take us both ? As soon as my grandmother pulled out the drive way this man gave me a chilling dark look , he had bright red eyes and a smirk on him . He pulled me to him and asked if I knew what it felt to be a woman . I only 7 not knowing what he really meant about that said no . He then proceeded to ask if I wanted to feel like one , i then again said no. At that moment he got very upset and of course I really didn’t need to go into to much details at that point to understand what happened . All I could remember is lying there frozen and not knowing what was happening and what to do .My grandmother came back in 30 min to what felt like hours to me . As she pulled up he stared at me and said “ if you tell your nana I will kill you and your sisters” , i of course not being scared blurted it out to my grandmother as soon as she came in . She looked at me in disbelief and anger. All I got was a slap in the face and told I was a liar , I was then sent to the room and was told to not tell anyone else. I felt so defeated as if I were in this world all alone. I just remember the look on my 5 year old sisters face and the confusion on it to what had happened. When hearing a story like this people may ask well why didn’t she go to her parents or a teacher , well it’s easier said then done . If a 7 year old came to a realization that her own nana wouldn’t believe her what makes her think her own parents would ? What would you have done…?
By Elizabeth Renteria4 years ago in Confessions
The letter
Katherine, I am currently writing to you because I can't seem to get this off of my mind. I wish you could understand the immense pain that you have caused me over the last 17 years. I wish you could feel the hurt that I have felt. The giant hole in my heart that was created by the lack of having my mother. I pushed myself to be the best person I could be and I fell down a lot of times. But you know what. I picked myself back up. I pushed myself over and over and over again, to become the person that deserved better. You and I have a lot in common, and this bothers me so much. I don't ever want to be like you. And that is such a shitty thing to think. Isn't it our job as children to see you parents as our mentors. Isn't it our job as your children to want to be like you. Oh wait, isn't it the parents jobs to be good enough role models that your children should be like you. I guess that's where I become the fool because you were never really there to be a role model. I have never been so angry at myself for pushing a relationship, wishing nothing but success and happiness from it. I have never felt such disgust in myself because I let a stranger so easily in my life. Because let's be honest, you're a stranger. I don't understand why I ever thought it was a great idea to reach out to you if it took you 14 years to even realize that I am still your daughter. That I still want a relationship with the person who left. You know I fought so hard just to learn that you are the same person 14 years ago. I can't believe that I ever let you into my heart. Just for you to break it like everybody else. I am going to be a better mother.
By layla welsh4 years ago in Confessions
Sad Confessions of a Not-So-Talented Dreamer
Ten-year-old me had a lot of things to say. She had plans, and lots of them too. One of her very first best ideas was to start a circus. Now, a child doesn't always have the option to do some big production, so she made it work in her own way. She collected her siblings and gathered some pathetic little props. The show turned out to be massively successful! Well, according to the two people who showed up (and yes, it might've been her parents). And so, that little girl put together hundreds of shows right there in her tiny backyard.
By Suri Grey4 years ago in Confessions
To Be a Tree
Have you ever been asked “what's your earliest memory?”It wasn't until I was 17 that I could actually REMEMBER my first memory. And it was very surprising, my very first memory was with my father. (As you get farther in this you'll see I kinda have some daddy issues we are working on.)
By Evelynn Covelli4 years ago in Confessions
The Year That Recess Died. Top Story - July 2022.
Recess. Arguably the best part about school growing up as a kid. Nothing felt better than throwing off the shackles of the classroom and bolting outside towards freedom, your friends in tow. Wind, snow, or humidity that made even your eye-balls sweat. It didn't matter what the heavens tossed our way. It was recess time, it was ours, and it was sacred.
By Luna Quill4 years ago in Confessions
Info dumping
As kids I think a lot of us go out of our way to impress people we like. Like I mean really just do the most unnecessary things that we would've thought would work, but then get the most blank response either way. It may be discouraging, but for me I think it was a start of enjoying the simple satisfactions.
By Oseray4 years ago in Confessions
HEAUXLISTIC THERAPY
Entry 2 I can remember the day that I found out that I was adopted. I had to be maybe four or five years old. My mother was in the living room watching something on TV. Maybe Phil Donahue or something like that. I was outside and a neighbor named Kenny was in his backyard lifting weights. I remember going over to his yard and asking him what he was doing and I remember him saying something like, "WTF YOU THINK I'M DOING". I remember telling him that he was mean and whatever else I said to him really set him off because he said to me, "That's why yo ass was adopted"...
By Heauxlistic Therapy4 years ago in Confessions
Misunderstood
I heard this question, "If you could write a book about your life, what would the title be called?" And that's where I got "Misunderstood" from. Because I've spent my whole life feeling that way. Nothing short of that. But I'm not really a "book writing" type of person. So instead of writing a book, I'm just going to turn this into a series of articles. So this is the story of my life.
By Ashanti Harris4 years ago in Confessions
Honorable Discharge
I do not remember a single joke from Dad. That isn't because he wasn't funny. It is mostly because he wasn't fun- he wasn't fun to be around, he wasn't fun to listen to, or anything like that. Dad was no joke. I've got stories that I could tell, but they taste sour in my mouth, and they churn my guts to butter. It makes for the most foul smelling breath- poor first impression. Who needs horror movies when you've got memories like mine? The irony of it all is that, growing up, I was a horror movie enthusiast, to say the least. I ran to the television whenever some scary picture was on it. Maybe it was the drips of adrenaline, or perhaps it was the appreciation of an entertaining distraction from everyday life. In truth, as a child, I was comforted with knowing that it could be worse- I could have seven days to live, or I could be getting chased by some man-eating, winged creature with an appetite for fear. How f*cked up is that?
By Taimane Mitchell4 years ago in Confessions