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Living with the past and why I am who I am today

4/4/2016

40 Comments

 
Picture
First of all I am going to be honest in saying I never wanted to be a parent.
I was brought up with my aunt and uncle who I called mum and dad after I was removed from my real parents because of abuse and neglect.

I've kind of grew up to not be ashamed of saying that now and when people ask me then give me that look of them not wishing they had and say that awful word ''sorry'' as if it was a dirty secret I didn't want to reveal, I have to tell them '' I'm ok'' and ''I've learnt to deal with it''.

Fact of the matter is I have learnt to deal with it although there are always going to be days where I remember how much hurt it still causes and how much the things that have happened still to this day effect me, I feel I have learnt to balance the good that came out of the bad .

My past is my past and I've been through some pretty shitty things but I'm not here to go through absolutely everything , I don't feel I need to try to explain it all now I've grown to just try and let it lie but although I have had a small amount of people there to help me through life from then, it still seems very much a lonely one except for the fact I have my ow family now who are my only compfort.

From being only 7 years old I seem to remember only ever having my mum , dad , brothers Michael and Trevor and older sister Glynis and of course the many Social services , weekend respite carers and councillors that came and went .
​I loved my new family so much and they were the only family I could ever truly feel I belonged to.
I seemed to have a new social worker etc every two month and over the span of 10 years I must have had so many I cant actually ever remember one name other than the one man that stuck in my head after an encounter where he totally changed my life for the worse during my teenage years .

See I was not an only child , in fact I did have a younger sister who I literally played mum to before we were removed and added to the care systems list. She was two years younger than me and I was placed in one aunts home and she the other.
We made regular holidays visits to see each other and we grew up never having that sister bond, infact councillors warned for us to never be placed together and marked us down as chalk and cheese and a danger to each other if we were ever put together.


It is not the fact that we simply just did not like each other but I think the obvious way she was always made out to be the favourite by our birth parents made me spill more hate for the fact she made me feel unwanted . I suppose I merely became that child that was pushed to one side as a new child came into the equation and as the younger one was being smothered with effection , I seemed to be the one being pushed out .

We were aloud supervised visits with our real mum, she rarely turned up and one Christmas I remember meeting her in a nursery which was used on rare occasions for times like this.
I remember being very young only about 8 or so and being excited not to see her but to see my sister .
You see, even being very small , I was never truly able to let go for what she had done to us before we were removed and if I'm truly honest never had that mother / daughter bond.
I suppose it stems from being locked in a bedroom at age 5 while you know shes left you alone to go out , you only know that because you hear her falling in drunk hours later and with numerous men at that. She never made me feel protected ,in fact when I was with her I felt so scared and alone , so much so it still scares me now being alone .
There were many occasions where my Aunty who eventually became my mum picked me up from school because she forgot about me. I would walk to school on my own at age 6-7 and she would not pick me up so my aunty would and then only a week later when she returned home would she come crawling back to get us.

It was not much longer after that ,I was about 7, that my baby brother died from SIDS (sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and our neglect was highlighted and brought to the attention more that my aunty took me to live with her and her family.

Anyway, so I was so excited to see my sister and our real mother turned up.
We were told that she would be bringing our christmas presents and when I seen a big black back in her hand I gave the biggest smile ever.
All I ever wanted was to be accepted, loved and thought about and although this looked like a small gesture from her and not anywhere near the mother I desperately seeked.

She soon took that smile and turned it into a frown when that big black bag was passed with tons of presents to my younger sister .
I stood there waiting for her to pass me one ,maybe she had another in the car and was just letting her open hers first.
Maybe theres one in there for me right at the bottom.
I sat there hiding inside the nursery role play toy phone booth alone watching my younger sister rip open every present in excitement and our mother watch her every move with that look I never seen her give me.
I know now that look was a mothers love , she never looked at me like that,ever.
​I remember being sat there so upset and staring at the look on her face hoping she would turn it to me ,I so desperately wanted her to just turn around, " Just look at me please" , I kept saying to her in my head, but when she did it was not the same look.
At 8 years old I realised the look my mother gave me was not that of love but infact hate!
At just 8 years old it was then I realised she was not my mother and I infact hated her too.

I forgave her for the neglect,
I forgave her for letting me feel scared ,
I forgave her for allowing me to be abused and even forgave her for her abusing me but that was it.

I decided then to never want to see her again . That look of emptiness ,that dead stare of loneliness was the one sure thing that made me realise I was alone.

I grew up trying to forget her and my aunty and auncle brought me up as their own.
I finally found what I had always wanted and that look I so desperately seeked for came from my new mam every single day.
​It felt amazing and I never wanted it to end. Finally I had a mam and she loved me.
We spent so much time together, I went everywhere with her and the happy memories of us dancing to hot chocolate or Shakespear sisters doing the side shuffle in the hallway together will always stay.

When I was 11 and had just started my new school , my new mum and dad lost their eldest son. He was my big brother and I wrote my letter to him while he was away working in the Army not long before that , his reply letter is all I have left of him now .
The social services thought it best that I was to go and stay with my sister in a different city while they grieved for the loss.
We agreed that after his funeral that I would attend , I would return home.
​He was amazing and he had an amazing big brother taken too soon from us , I know it broke mam and dads hearts so much but I had to be strong and let them grieve so I left hoping to be back in a week or two max .

My dad and I still come to tears when we get flashbacks of that day we attended Newton Aycliffe's Young persons Centre .
We attended a meeting not even 1 week later that was arranged immediately by social services where we presumed was for me to return home after but instead I was literally dragged screaming away from my dad to another room where they informed me I was not able to return and instead I was to be rehomed like a lost dog because the system decided it was in my best interest.

Those words still make me so angry. MY BEST INTERESTS? "LIERS!"
I have and always will hold Social services fully responsible for breaking my heart and turning me into the nightmare teenager I soon became.
I turned to hate everyone and came up with this sad unfortunate thinking that if I became close to anyone they would either get rid of me or die.


Being somewhere I did not want to be and being left to feel alone once again made me feel so angry .
I had fought for so long to have a family then had it ripped from under my feet instantly made me rebel.

I started to do things like smoking, drinking, taking drugs, self harming and hanging about with boys to get that attention back I so desperately needed . I misbehaved in school and at my aunties and fought daily with my younger sister. My aunty tried so hard with me but I simply just wanted to go home and Social services denied any possibility of that ever being able to happen.

​I made my teenage years a nighmare for any parent and I promised myself I would never ever have children .

People kept saying it's a circle effect.
Basically because my real parents regected me that it was only natural for me to do the same if I became a mother too and so remembering that hurt myself , I knew instantly I never ever wanted to have anyone feel like that ever.

​After begging to go back home through all of my comprehensive years I finally ran away, two days I wandered the streets of Sunderland before eventually getting my friend to steal a bike so I could attempt to ride 45 miles back to my family.

​I was only 16, terrified, cold and lost and after reaching just 23 miles before being so scared that I stopped at the only place open at 11.30pm ,I decided to hand myself in .
​The police had been looking for me for 2 days and I was classed as missing .

After spending 6 hours at a police while they tried to get hold of someone ,I fell asleep exhausted in a side room. There was no way I was going back after all that

Early hours in the morning, I was finally put into a car and reunited with my family I had so desperately been trying to get to.
Seems once your 16 years old the care system allow you to make your own choices and then dump you like the many social service ,carers and councilors before.

It was like I had never left although the loss of my brothers presence was definitely noticed , my mam and dad had a trophy cabinet made which held his beret and a british flag along with some of his other bits and bobs and it brought a little comfort to me knowing we were some what back altogether .

​I moved in with my older sister Glyn and we grew amazingly close .
Mam and dad made me feel like one of the family again and I tried to spend as much time as I could with them .
I had signed up to join the Army before leaving Sunderland and so within months as soon as I was 16 I was in there doing the best I could to try and make them proud of me.
In all honesty I just wanted to be like my big brothers who were also in the army but I simply just could not cut it and only 6 months later I was medically discharged .

I moved back in with mam and dad and as soon as I was 18 I was given quite a generous compensation sum.
No matter what people say , compensation does not make things better , my past always creeps up with me and I have some really bad days where I remember or have flashbacks from some of the traumas I hide from my close ones. I simply just get on with it , it's part of me and it's part of my learning process I still deal with.
I spent it all on furnishing my new home and taking my mam and dad on holiday for a week to Turkey and we had a fabulous time.
 Two years later mam and dad turned up to the birth of first child and were right there with me , mum holding my hand by the side of the birthing pool as I gave birth to my first daughter, their first grand daughter. The most amazing experience anyone could ever have and I wanted them with me all the way . My mum was amazing and it was as if we were so close she was feeling my pain . 
As my contractions ended , she said she could feel my pain and it was as if hers were starting and so we fought for the gas and air through our rally .
We laughed, cried and then cried some more , most amazingly they held my daughter and saw her being born and for the first time I gave her that look that my mam beside me gave me.

A memory never forgot but cherished as soon after my mum found out that Cancer had taken her and only three months later she was gone from all of our lives.
The most amazing woman ever , the only person to ever understand me and give me love I desperately needed. The only person who has ever shown me THAT LOOK.

Looking back now , I can see it so much more clearly.
My life was a test. I proved to myself that not only can I be loved but I can also love others. More importantly love my children and that nature does not mean I will follow that cycle that others feared I would.

There is not one time ever I have looked at my children with that stare or hate and emptiness. I love them all too much to hurt them .

Obviously I am not going to lie.
It is not easy being mum to 8 and I don't think there is ever a time I get some me time, I certainly do not get time to go out with friends , treat myself to nice things or even do things most people take for granted .
I barely sleep , worry constantly about the kids getting ill or falling down and my clothes are older than the kids themselves and don't even fit no more as I've let myself go a little, feed them before myself if need be but that is a sacrifice a mother makes.
I don't favour one child over another , leave one out on special occasions or give them that look of hate. 

So when you look at me with my 8 little ones, don't judge me on why you think I might have so many kids but think of those kids who are judged for being unwanted because me and our children will never feel alone again as long as we have each other.

You're only ever as alone as you make yourself feel.






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40 Comments
Jamie
4/4/2016 04:38:09 pm

Wow, I was really moved reading this. I literally have nothing but admiration for you. Good luck on your journey going forward. Xx

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Lisa Prince
4/4/2016 08:18:50 pm

thankyou so much xx

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marie
8/4/2016 03:37:30 pm

Your mam would be so proud of you Lisa. You are a strong, loving, supportive mam just like she was. This took a lot of courage to write, I admire you darling xx

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hannah
4/4/2016 05:28:07 pm

Thats quite a hard thing to write about, but you wrote it so well. Good luck x

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Lisa Prince
4/4/2016 08:19:18 pm

thankyou it definitely was x

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JuggleMum, Nadine Hill link
4/4/2016 07:29:55 pm

Reading this I was touched by your honesty and the way you have come to terms with what happened. No child should ever have to go through neglect but unfortunately it happens. Women have the equipment to have a baby but it doesn't mean they are capable of being a mother, it is truly amazing how you have turned things around to become a mother to 8 loved children and you are right - you have all got each other.

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Lisa Prince
4/4/2016 08:20:31 pm

thankyou its been quite a journey writing this x

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Harriet from Toby & Roo link
4/4/2016 08:00:12 pm

I'm so touched by this post - no parent should ever behave this way. Your honesty is inspiring and refreshing. Good for you for moving forward and not letting your past define you. H x

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Lisa Prince
4/4/2016 08:21:29 pm

thankyou it was hard to write and some things needed to be said x

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Sarah Bailey link
4/4/2016 08:06:14 pm

This must have been such a hard post to write, I hope it helped you.

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Lisa Prince
4/4/2016 08:22:20 pm

thankyou, im not sure yet but i do believe its another healing process xx

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Rhian Westbury link
4/4/2016 09:17:31 pm

This must have been an incredibly hard post to write and your honesty is admirable. It goes to show that you can be a wonderful parent even if you didn't have the upbringing you deserved. I do not know how you manage to cope with 8 kids though, that's incredible x

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Emma boyle
4/4/2016 09:29:25 pm

Awww lisa this brought tears to my eyes. I remember your aunt/ mam from school i remem ur sister too. You have come along way n u shud b proud of yourself and ur doing amazing job wif ur beautiful children keep up the gud work god bless u all xxx

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shannon ritchie link
4/4/2016 10:35:58 pm

I can imagine this was very hard for you to write, I am very moved! Good luck on your journey, you're an incredible person! Xx

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Liz Mays link
4/4/2016 10:49:55 pm

I can imagine it was hard to write about some of these things. It's great that you 're making sure your kids never have to feel what you felt.

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Anne link
4/4/2016 11:04:06 pm

No child should ever have the start in life that you had, I'm glad you eventually found parents that could show you real love and I'm sure you are a great mum. x

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Melanie Edjourian link
5/4/2016 12:22:37 am

A very touching post. Wow 8 children you must be supermum, I can barely cope with 3.

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Mookie Moo link
5/4/2016 12:49:16 am

Sending you lots of love and big hugs for being such a courageous and strong person for turning your life around and seeing what lies ahead. :) Good for you and remember that there are lots of people who envy you your strength.xxx

<a href="http://www.mookieslife.com">Mookieslife</a> 

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Elizabeth link
5/4/2016 08:24:06 am

What an incredibly painful and moving post to write and to read. I am so sorry this happened to you. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make it all better.

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Sally Akins link
5/4/2016 08:29:10 am

It can't have been easy writing this piece, but I hope that doing so has helped to heal you a little bit more xx

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Fashion and Style Police link
5/4/2016 08:56:58 am

This post made me cry. You have been through so much right from a tender age. Sending you virtual hugs.

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Kara link
5/4/2016 09:11:48 am

I hope that writing this post has helped give you some closure. Having a tough childhood can make us repeat the mistakes of the parents, but it can also have the opposite effect and I am glad that you have found your peace and happiness with your own family

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Ana De- Jesus link
5/4/2016 09:43:35 am

I am not going to lie it made me feel so sad reading this because my upbringing/childhood was very similar to yours but despite everything you have been through you have remained strong and resilient. My mum and dad had me when I was very young and when I was 2 & a half she ran off with another man. My dad raised me and my childminder until I was six when he met the monster who would take away my childhood. She physically beat me on several occasions but worst of all was the emotional blackmail she put me through. Then when I was 10 years old I was finally taken into care and she does not let me see my own dad and my dad is too weak to stand up to her. She trapped him because she has three kids of her own with him and I have not met two of them. My mum got back in contact but my relationship with her is rocky. Sometimes she can be bothered to speak to me and other times she does not care.

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Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy link
5/4/2016 10:27:34 am

I am so sorry that this has happened to you, but you will help so many people by sharing your story.

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Jess @ Catch A Single Thought link
5/4/2016 11:47:26 am

Firstly, what a brave post for you to write and share. I can't even begin to imagine...you must be such a strong and resilient person. I am so sorry this has happened to you and I hope that by sharing your story you can help others in similar situations.

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Cassandra Mayers
5/4/2016 01:15:39 pm

Wow a mum to 8, I applaud you :D
This is a brave and tricky but great thing for you to write about, It could really help some people in the future. Thankyou for sharing x

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Rebecca Smith link
5/4/2016 03:26:04 pm

I read this with a tear in my eye, Lisa. You are so brave to share this story x

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Jen Walshaw link
5/4/2016 03:54:07 pm

What an awesome mother you are Lisa. I am sure that your experiences have shaped you in to the woman you are today. I am sorry that you had to go through it all, but you have a wonderful family now.

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Zoe IKIWN
5/4/2016 07:41:20 pm

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story, this must have been difficult to write but your experiences have made you the strong person you are today and I wish you all the best for the future. x

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Ickle Pickle link
5/4/2016 09:31:44 pm

Oh my goodness - how amazing are you to have come through all this - and to share your story. I have nothing but admiration for you. Your children are lucky to have you. Kaz x

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clare aka Emmy's Mummy link
5/4/2016 10:59:59 pm

WOW - I can only imagine how hard that was to write and I truly admire you for doing so. You definitely haven't had it easy but you have proven you are able to move forward and be your own wonderful person and showing the past is only what you make of it and it doesn't defy your future

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Leanne link
6/4/2016 08:10:33 am

This post is so raw and honest. Thank you for sharing. I can't belive how much you went through!

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Laura H link
6/4/2016 09:54:03 am

Your story was very hard to read and I imagine even harder to write. I'm sorry that you suffered so much when you were younger but I'm glad that it hasn't stopped you from having children of your own. I'm sure you're the best mummy to all 8 of them!

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Tracey link
6/4/2016 02:47:52 pm

Once I started reading I couldn't stop and yes, I had more than a tear in my eye too.

You are and will be an amazing Mum to your children.

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Sonya Cisco link
6/4/2016 06:26:45 pm

I want to reach through the screen and hug you - for beautiful honest writing, for your strength in sharing your story and for the way you have switched round your difficult childhood to provide a house full of love for your own family. Go you - you are awesome xx

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Karen Langridge link
8/4/2016 05:25:05 pm

It was very brave to write this post, you are such a strong person and your children will never go through what you have x

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angela hamilton link
8/4/2016 09:52:33 pm

It takes an incredible person to write a post that is so open and honest. You are a wonderful strong person and your children are lucky to have you xxxxx

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Rachel link
10/4/2016 05:55:13 pm

Wow, what an amazing and strong woman you are! I'm glad you shared your story as it's very good example as to why you can never really understand another person until you've walked a mile in their shoes! x

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Psychic Nest link
15/4/2016 05:19:47 pm

My eyes were full of tears while reading this. You are such a strong woman! Be proud for all the steps you have made till now. Thank you for sharing this story with all of us. You are such an inspiration!

Zaria

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Charly Dove link
22/4/2016 09:53:43 pm

Wow Lisa what a time you had. It must have been so hard to write this, bringing up so many memories, but I'm sure it will be good to look back on too. It's refreshingly honest and it must be amazing to remember how far you've come. You're probably a much stronger person as a result too x

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