I’m so sorry. I can barely wrap my mind around the enormity of your mother’s response to your trauma—even if she herself was abused and not protected. The similarities between her and Munro, who was such a brilliant observer and translator of the human heart, are stark and shocking. I’m so sorry for all this pain—and I think your courageous decision to stop protecting her is a step towards healing.
Thank you Clementine ❤️🔥 I could say so much more but right now I am just so grateful for you, your writing, and the world you birthed into existence the moment you published this piece.
What you say about the enormity of the wound of not being protected, of your disclosure being dropped like a hot potato by the mother you disclosed to, is absolutely true to my experience.
My own mother is a mental health professional and that has been a very sour irony in my life. I can relate to the bewilderment and disappointment of witnessing an expert mother refuse to bring her expertise to bear in her own home.
…In my own mother’s defense, she never threatened to use her connections to assassinate my character simply because I needed to tell my own story. I support your decision to revoke the anonymity you’ve tended to on your mother’s behalf for so long: at this point that shield hurts you much more than it helps her.
If you can be the kind of mother to your child one day that you are to yourself today, the very least we can say is that your child will have a protector that you did not.
You're a real hero to me. I don't see vindictiveness or canceling here. You had to break silence to protect other people who might rely on your mother's "expertise". Many blessings to you.
Thank you for continuing to build the world that we will all benefit from. You continue to move with integrity, strength, and compassion. May we all be so capable.
Thank you for putting words to the swirling unreality of not being protected and also having immense compassion. Your nuanced approach is an inspiration to my writing and to how I survive daily.
I can only imagine the waves of pain that you continue to ride in the relationship with your mother. I wanted to say that her description looks to me like her relationship with you is her central preoccupation and it's eating her up inside. I read recently that the opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference. She seems extremely far from indifferent
That could be true, or it could be that the public and private reification of Clementine's mother's identity as a feminist mother is a big priority and this piece of her own biography threatens that. Or some combination of both things. She definitely does seem far from indifferent--but why feels like a harder question to answer.
I’m so sorry. I can barely wrap my mind around the enormity of your mother’s response to your trauma—even if she herself was abused and not protected. The similarities between her and Munro, who was such a brilliant observer and translator of the human heart, are stark and shocking. I’m so sorry for all this pain—and I think your courageous decision to stop protecting her is a step towards healing.
Thank you Clementine ❤️🔥 I could say so much more but right now I am just so grateful for you, your writing, and the world you birthed into existence the moment you published this piece.
I fucking love you
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good for you on publishing this piece, Clementine.
Thank you Clementine 🌹
I see you and stand with you.
May the ferocity of the Morrigan carry you through the storm.
You are powerful in your truth telling. Thank you for your sacred work.
From those of us you’ve inspired to make the move to plant our feet in reality, against all the forces demanding unreality, thank you endlessly.
Thank you for expressing what I and many others have often felt time and again. Our hearts are with you. ❤️
What you say about the enormity of the wound of not being protected, of your disclosure being dropped like a hot potato by the mother you disclosed to, is absolutely true to my experience.
My own mother is a mental health professional and that has been a very sour irony in my life. I can relate to the bewilderment and disappointment of witnessing an expert mother refuse to bring her expertise to bear in her own home.
…In my own mother’s defense, she never threatened to use her connections to assassinate my character simply because I needed to tell my own story. I support your decision to revoke the anonymity you’ve tended to on your mother’s behalf for so long: at this point that shield hurts you much more than it helps her.
If you can be the kind of mother to your child one day that you are to yourself today, the very least we can say is that your child will have a protector that you did not.
Such a powerful piece of writing Clementine. Thank you for guiding us on how to live in the realm of reality with such bravery ❤️
You're a real hero to me. I don't see vindictiveness or canceling here. You had to break silence to protect other people who might rely on your mother's "expertise". Many blessings to you.
Thank you for continuing to build the world that we will all benefit from. You continue to move with integrity, strength, and compassion. May we all be so capable.
Thank you for putting words to the swirling unreality of not being protected and also having immense compassion. Your nuanced approach is an inspiration to my writing and to how I survive daily.
I can only imagine the waves of pain that you continue to ride in the relationship with your mother. I wanted to say that her description looks to me like her relationship with you is her central preoccupation and it's eating her up inside. I read recently that the opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference. She seems extremely far from indifferent
That could be true, or it could be that the public and private reification of Clementine's mother's identity as a feminist mother is a big priority and this piece of her own biography threatens that. Or some combination of both things. She definitely does seem far from indifferent--but why feels like a harder question to answer.
I’m so proud of you for telling your story. Xxx