When I was young I was raised to 

keep my head down, do as told, 

I know better than you, I am the parent 

and you are the child. 
 

I was raised to never accept my own 

thoughts, feelings, experiences as valid. 

I was told to be a good little girl, always obey

I know better than you, I am the parent 

and you are the child. 

 

 If I mentioned a memory that was unsavory, 

I was told it never happened; I was lying. 

I can't be trusted, for I was the child. 

 

I was accused of sleeping with boys 

who I only knew from the bus stop.

But she was the parent, and I the child 

so I was a slut and had to be driven to school.

 

I was accused of stealing when she misplaced cash.

I had never even seen it, but was labeled a thief 

and was punished for weeks even after it was found. 

But she was the parent and I was the child 

so I was never trusted with anything again. 
 

I was being bullied at school

and it was clear that something was wrong. 

But instead of listening to what I had to say, 

I was accused of wrongdoing and had my possessions

searched every single day after that.

But she was the parent and I was the child 

so I was deceitful and lost anything resembling privacy. 
 

I was depressed and suicidal and finally asked for help. 

I showed my scars and cried, not knowing what to do.

I was looked at with disdain and told I was attention seeking, 

I was just dramatic, and she knew the difference,

for she was the parent and I was the child.

 

Now an adult, I still believed that I am inherently bad,

my self image made up of the things I was told about myself;

things I used to know weren't true. 

 

Now an adult who finally got help for myself,

I'm learning to accept that that's not who I am or who I was.

 I'm learning that I decide the words that describe me. 

She was the parent and I was the child 

but I am no longer bound by her description. 

 

Now an adult, I know that I am 

selfless and kind, stronger than I realize 

and unwilling to accept that I am what she says I was.