Previous Message Return to Archive 2004 Next Message

Archive Number 3577

Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2004 10:29:14 EST
From: Marcia Gutiérrez
Subject: Re: Abusive Stories - More Explanation


MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

In a message dated 1/17/2004 12:46:51 PM Central Standard Time,=20
Beagle150@AOL.COM writes:

> An individual within a family unit:
>=20
> Say you have an individual who comes to you and tells you their story - -
> that they are repeatedly told stories from within their family unit for=20
> which
> they can do nothing but witness and listen. The tales from their mother,
> father, brothers and sisters are personal stories about thier addictions,=20
> family
> abuse of all kinds, stories of many and supposedly repeated poor choice=20
> making,
> gossip about family members, etc. Painful stories are fair game all the=20
> time.
> As time goes on the person doesn't trust family members because their
> stories are inconsistent, full of gossip and lies and unhealthy behavior.=20=
=20
> Still
> the person doesn't disconnect but listens. The stories continue for decad=
es=20
> and
> now include children and young grandchildren. The individual feels deep
> sadness and desires to be compassionate - - yet, clearly desires to be out=
=20
> of the
> group.
>=20
>=20

when stories are used in this form I distance myself. My husband's family i=
s=20
a large one--my mother-in-law was one of 15 children and many of them have 1=
5=20
or more. I am from a small family so it was an interesting experience when=20=
I=20
moved to Costa Rica and found that my husband's warnings were real.....we=20
distanced ourselves from the negative and also chose who we "broke bread" w=
ith=20
in the family. When Abuela died there was a mini-civil war and now that=20
Abuelo and my mother-in-law have passed on there is another mini-civil war w=
ith my=20
husband as the scape goat..........we are in Illinois now and I find some of=
t
he "stories" laughable.......Distance yourself from this form of story----it=
's=20
not what storytelling is about----it's just gossip.

Marcia Guti=E9rrez
Elgin, IL

-------------------------------
To Unsubscribe from Healingstory send the message: unsubscribe healingstory
to: listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu
-------------------------------