I’m floored. The writing is tight and the emotional grip tighter. I have grappled with whether and how to tell my daughters I was raped. They’re 14 and 10 now. This example is startling and empowering. The affirmation from your son is just the repair that the daring announcement needed… and so much more. “Psychological auto-immune disorder” is a very compelling term. I think I’ll be meditating on this for a long while.
Thank you so much for reading. And I'm so sorry you are part of this terrible 'club.' Take good care and trust that you will know the right time to tell your girls. xxN
Dear God, Natalie!!! What an astonishing piece of writing. Your courage, your articular, courage, fills me with awe and gratitude. I want you to be my Mom and I’m a good 10 years older than you.
I know that’s just as impossible as it was for your mother to be anyone other than who she was. But such kindness you have found now for yourself and for her. I thank you for doing that in public.
A facilitated psychedelic journey at the start of this month has pulled the stopper out of the bottle for me. I’m gonna keep reading you while I start writing more truth.
Thank you for commenting on the kindness. I find starting with curiosity is the best place to begin to move toward kindness. I appreciate your note. xN
I was glued to your words from the first sentence. The honesty, clarity, and depiction of this aspect of your life journey from childhood to motherhood had me hanging on to every syllable. Thank you for sharing.
Exceptional. Not a single false note. Deep appreciation for your authentic, direct telling in such tight, clear language. I love your fierce heart. The way you ended this made me cry grateful tears. I'm inspired to continue writing about the too-many-incidents I experienced. I vehemently denied I was a victim of sexual assault for years. While this is no longer true, I know writing into that more deeply is/will be a gift. X, k PS - And how beautiful, the life and the family you co-created!
Thank you, Krayna, for reading and commenting. I’m so sorry for what happened to you. Please do keep writing. So much healing ❤️🩹 comes when we tell our stories. xN
I too suffered from psychological auto immune disorder for many years. Your essay is an honest look at parent child relationships and you show us what happens when we choose to be silent and when we speak. Your writing is emotionally raw and inspiring and everywhere I’m trying to go with telling my own stories. Changing hearts and lives with this one. Brava.
I’m so sorry that this happened to you. From this trauma, you have written a captivating essay so beautifully expressed. My hope is that your legacy–that this story has been shared with a generation of young men to educate them–brings you some healing, for there is healing in the telling. xo
Thanks, Kristy. I consider myself healed. Hearing from so many women who share my story, who are strong, who are raising smart and caring humans, it all helps. xxN
Just reading this after you linked to it from today's post, Natalie – thanks for the pointer. What vivid writing. Sorry it happened to you. So glad you had that conversation with your son; and that he showed you the video that paved the way for the discussion and for that memory to become clear, so you could name the assault. It shows how much we need to keep conversations with our children open.
I’m floored. The writing is tight and the emotional grip tighter. I have grappled with whether and how to tell my daughters I was raped. They’re 14 and 10 now. This example is startling and empowering. The affirmation from your son is just the repair that the daring announcement needed… and so much more. “Psychological auto-immune disorder” is a very compelling term. I think I’ll be meditating on this for a long while.
Thank you so much for reading. And I'm so sorry you are part of this terrible 'club.' Take good care and trust that you will know the right time to tell your girls. xxN
What a powerful story. What a wonderful son.
(As my grandma always said) He is definitely a keeper! Thanks for reading. xN
Beautiful , painful, and true. Thank you, Natalie.
<3
Thank you, Cheryl. Hard one to be sure. xN
Thank you for sharing this. So many of us share some version of your story.
It makes me sad and angry that there are so many of us with a version of my story. Wishing you well. xN
Dear God, Natalie!!! What an astonishing piece of writing. Your courage, your articular, courage, fills me with awe and gratitude. I want you to be my Mom and I’m a good 10 years older than you.
I know that’s just as impossible as it was for your mother to be anyone other than who she was. But such kindness you have found now for yourself and for her. I thank you for doing that in public.
A facilitated psychedelic journey at the start of this month has pulled the stopper out of the bottle for me. I’m gonna keep reading you while I start writing more truth.
Trauma, when you speak it, is survivable.
Thank you for commenting on the kindness. I find starting with curiosity is the best place to begin to move toward kindness. I appreciate your note. xN
Brilliant writing. So powerful, so personal, and so poignant. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Sadly, it's one that is all too familiar.
You're right, all too familiar. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. xN
Powerful piece of writing. Your bravery in telling this simply and honestly rings so true. Strong and loving writing
Thanks for reading, and for letting me know. xN
"Trauma, when you speak of it, is survivable." Thank you, Natalie.
Yes to what so many have said. Powerful and beautifully viscerally described -all of it. 🙏🏼🩷
I was glued to your words from the first sentence. The honesty, clarity, and depiction of this aspect of your life journey from childhood to motherhood had me hanging on to every syllable. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading my work, and for letting me know it meant something to you. I’m grateful. xN
Exceptional. Not a single false note. Deep appreciation for your authentic, direct telling in such tight, clear language. I love your fierce heart. The way you ended this made me cry grateful tears. I'm inspired to continue writing about the too-many-incidents I experienced. I vehemently denied I was a victim of sexual assault for years. While this is no longer true, I know writing into that more deeply is/will be a gift. X, k PS - And how beautiful, the life and the family you co-created!
Thank you, Krayna, for reading and commenting. I’m so sorry for what happened to you. Please do keep writing. So much healing ❤️🩹 comes when we tell our stories. xN
Yes, so true. :-) Thx.
I too suffered from psychological auto immune disorder for many years. Your essay is an honest look at parent child relationships and you show us what happens when we choose to be silent and when we speak. Your writing is emotionally raw and inspiring and everywhere I’m trying to go with telling my own stories. Changing hearts and lives with this one. Brava.
Thank you, Heather. Take care. xN
Everything about this essay is perfect: pacing, details, take-aways. I've always admired you and your writing, and this proves why.
Thank you, Nan. Right back at you. xN
I’m so sorry that this happened to you. From this trauma, you have written a captivating essay so beautifully expressed. My hope is that your legacy–that this story has been shared with a generation of young men to educate them–brings you some healing, for there is healing in the telling. xo
Thanks, Kristy. I consider myself healed. Hearing from so many women who share my story, who are strong, who are raising smart and caring humans, it all helps. xxN
Wow. Immensely powerful.
Just reading this after you linked to it from today's post, Natalie – thanks for the pointer. What vivid writing. Sorry it happened to you. So glad you had that conversation with your son; and that he showed you the video that paved the way for the discussion and for that memory to become clear, so you could name the assault. It shows how much we need to keep conversations with our children open.
Thank you, Wendy.