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Scapegoat Upside: It Probably Saved My Life

I was the scapegoat in my family, and my older brother was the golden child. According to my abusive parents, he could do no wrong, and I could do no right. We were often pitted against each other, as narcissists tend to do with their children. My brother beat me up daily after school, and when I told my mom about it, she shrugged and made it my fault. If he complained about me, she immediately took his side and I was punished. My father alternately ignored or raged at both of us, but my mother made it abundantly clear that my brother was the favored one. She fawned over him like she fawned over my narcissistic father. In her world, males were to be enabled and blindly followed, and females, well, were in the way. To them, I was the "annoying" one when I spoke up about things that weren't normal. I was the "over-emotional" one when I reacted to things that were not normal. I was the "rebellious" one when I challenged things that were not normal. ...

Scapegoat and Golden Child: A Melodrama

Act I One could do no right; One could do no wrong. Mom assigned the roles; Dad agreed on parts. They both knew their lines; Angel and Demon. Triangled siblings; equidistant truth. Act II Angel goes on stage; plays to the rapt house. Flowers, cheers, and praise; 'Bravo! Well done, child.' Demon goes on next; but forgets her wail. Never gets it right; always doomed to fail. Act III 'Try harder,' Mom says; 'You make me look bad'. Demon asks to switch; shocked Mom spits, enraged. Angel points and sneers; you will never be me. Forever entwined; the foil for the spoiled. Act IV At last, Demon flees; unmasked, she feels strange. What is this feeling? Is this self-esteem? Angel's thoughts disturb him; Don't they all love me? Where's my attention? Must be Demon's fault. Act V Mom dies, Angel there; Demon breathes relief. Dad dies, Angel there; Demon breathes relief. Angel cries, 'Where were you?' Demon stands straig...