i grew up in a poor Irish/Jewish family who seemed to barely be engaged with life. life happened to them. by teaching myself to read at three i explored foreign lands, peoples, cultures, animals, with mystical figures, and historical figures i knew life had to be different. being poor, really poor when alot of energy is put towards making ends meet and holding back the violence created the foundation for me to escape through books. since i wasn’t a pretty girl, and had an odd, geeky personality, books made me feel alive. they gave me room to grow in the midst of my stifling ranch house just outside of Philadelphia.
as we’ve all learned, it’s difficult for children in abusive homes to manage day to day chores. the stress blocks their critical thinking skills, while their survival skills increase and sharpen daily. without leadership, how does this type of child style or create anything?
