Family Insanity

So to begin, I understand every family has their up and downs and skeletons in the closet. What many people may view as a picture perfect family could have many dark sides to that picture. I know it sounds repetitive, since there are many songs, weird movies, and much more on such things. But to me each one is different. You may have a family that abuses physically or one that does so mentally. Mine mostly dabbled in the mental portion and a little in the physical. This is part one of my family's insanity. To begin, my parents divorced when I was about 4 or 5. My mother gained custody of my brother and I, and moved to Texas. We stayed with our grandmother for a while and eventually got our own small house there. As far as I can remember, it wasn't too bad there. Eventually, my grandmother moved to New Mexico to live with my aunt (mother's sister) and her family. Not long after we followed suit. From what I remember it wasn't too bad at first. It was difficult during that time because for my mom to be a single mother and barely be home due to work was difficult. With that being said, my mother's father and her brother moved in as "help". My grandfather wasn't really an issue, he was okay. My uncle on the other hand not so much. Granted to some people, they may not have a problem with how he handled us. On weekends he would have me clean the whole house, while my brother had to go in the backyard and pick weeds and clean dog poop. Sounds harmless, right? Well for me it wasn't that bad, but it was opposite for my brother. With doing his outside chores in the blistering heat, he was not allowed to come back in the house for a break or to get water. And to give a better perspective on the situation. I was maybe about 7 or 8 when this began, which means my brother was about 5 or 6 (he is 2 years younger than me). Yep. Not sounding that great, huh? And as time went on we began to see the difference in treatment, not only by our uncle, but from the rest of my mother's side of the family as well. I know this probably isn't the best beginning to a story, but I feel like this is the best way I can tell it. One piece at a time. Maybe then I will feel the weight lift from my shoulders and possibly start letting go of the past and create a better future for myself and my own family.