Dear Dad,
I wish you were home more. I need you on my side. Junior yells at me a lot and then mom just gets mad at me for making him yell at me. I don’t understand why you tolerate the way mom spends your money when your house just got foreclosed. Thank you for defending Lyla. I really love her. I wish you didn’t have to work so much. 16 hour shifts are too much for an old man like you.
Dear Mom,
I hate it when you say that I know I love you. Because I really don’t. And I hate it when you text me that you love me. It’s weird and awkward. But I guess I see why you text it, because it’s so awkward to say it. I don’t know what I did so wrong as a child that you treat me the way you do. I’m sorry I turned out to be a girl and that you were disappointed once again that you didn’t have a boy. I’m no longer sorry that I don’t live up to your standards, because I don’t want to care anymore. Every time I do, I just get depressed and feel worthless. And it’s not just me; ask any one of your kids if they’ve ever felt like they were not good enough because of you. I wish you would get counseling. You have symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder as well as Narcissism. I wish you treated my Ate, Ate Raquel, Ate Jeannette and I like you treat Ate Michelle and Junior. Because right now, I really, really, really don’t like you. I hate how you make me feel. I hate how you make me cry. I hate how you always just angrily say, “Why are you crying?!” whenever I start crying. I hate how you don’t care as long as I’m quiet. I’m really not trying to be one of those unappreciative children, because I really do appreciate all the rides you’ve given me and how you’ve financially supported me. I just wish you realized that, as your daughter, I want more than just money and shelter. I need emotional support. I’ve just stopped acting like I do because you always seem so uncomfortable when I need it. Like when Audri died and you just told me, “Life goes on,” and to do my homework. That didn’t make me feel better at all.
