Today I am going to share with you a story – a story that will make your skin crawl. A TRUE story. Think “The Glass Castle” in 2011. Proceed at your own risk…
A recent report told of a 23 year-old brother and his 20 year-old sister from Illinois that were raised in such a tragic, gruesome environment, they felt they had no other option but to sue the one person who had destroyed their lives – their own mother. It is true. They were forced to sue the very woman who gave them life – for negligence, and for causing them “emotional distress”. What could they possibly hope to gain? How about $50,000 in damages?
From what I can tell, they had all sorts of reasons to be upset. The evidence submitted at the trial was compelling. Look at the horrific text from a birthday card this terrible mother sent her poor, unsuspecting son:
“Son I got you this Birthday card because it’s just like you … different from all the rest!” the message read inside. “Have a great day! Love & Hugs, Mom xoxoxo,”
(Shudder) How low can a parent stoop? Oh the humanity! It started early – one time this “mother” actually told her son to put on his seatbelt- his seatbelt!. But wait, it gets worse…
While in college the neglected son did not receive enough Care Packages. Meanwhile, left at home to face this menace (in their $1.5 million house) the poor daughter was subjected to a most horrible fate – a midnight curfew. Midnight! Had this woman gone mad?
These are actual pictures of the poor kids. See how the abuse and neglect oozes from their Accutane-treated pores?
Of course justice was not only blind, but heartless, and it ended poorly for the kids. Just yesterday the Illinois Appeals Court dismissed the case, saying that mom’s behavior wasn’t “extreme or outrageous”. I know, I know, it’s hard to respect the legal system after a travesty such as this. Hopefully they can both move forward and live semi-normal lives.
—
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that i would have had a much better case than these two against either one of my parents (may they rest in peace).
At the risk of offending some of your delicate feelings, I’ll highlight a few of the things that I suffered as a child at the hands of my parents. Things that make the Illinois kid’s scars pale in comparison.
• Two words: Pickled Beets
• My father would shoot free throws underhand. It was all I could do to go outside and face my friends.
• Flashlights and Pinworms – ’nuff said.
• My father watched “HeeHaw” every Saturday.
• We were the last family on the street to get a color TV.
• 16 hour car rides with AM talk radio.
• My father got his masters from UofU. Yes, he was a Ute. Oh the shame!
• Repressed memories of Lawrence Welk.
• I only had one pair of rainbow-stitched, saddleback jeans. ONE.
and if that’s not enough
• I had to drive a Datsun station wagon – on dates!
I’m sorry if this has been difficult for any of you. I just wanted to illustrate that I had a case. A really strong case.
(It’s amazing I am so well-adjusted.)
I did find one great quote in all of this: The mom said that she still loves her children, but they wanted “the benefits afforded by a family relationship, but none of the restraints.”
Chicago Tribune Article
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I might be the only 26 year old that still had a black and white TV into he teens and dial up internet till i went to USU and my folks wouldn’t even buy a cordless phone until after I left for college no private conversations for me growing up my parents did not embrace the new millennium in any sort of way
Lol, your list looks a lot like mine. I drove a Datsun B210 Honeybee, fugly yellow, with no AC (in Phx) or radio that I had to share with my annoying brother. But not until I was a senior, my transportation before that was a red, beat-up schwin. I, too, ate pickled beets AND pickled eggs (although I actually like them) and sat through Hee Haw, Lawrence Welk AND Ed Sullivan. My curfew was 10 on schoolnights and 11:30 on weekends. My Dad didnt play basketball, but he was the local Scoutmaster…for like 20 years. Dad graduated college the same year I graduated High School. I remember getting our first color TV in 1976 cuz Dad’s 1965 Datsun got rearended and he chose not to replace it. I was forced to babysit for spending money, as my parents didn’t believe in allowance. I also got to babysit my own five siblings for free.
The first thing my 14 yr old asks when I ask her to do something is “how much will you pay me”. I tell her that doing it will insure that she gets dinner.
You’re right. It was like reading “The Glass Castle II, The Even Worser Years”
It’s amazing you survived Pickled Beets. And that you got married with that awesome ‘ride’.
Those pickled beets were the worst! I’m glad you turned out ok…did you turn out ok? You seem fine, but you could easily have some maniacal tendencies lurking just beneath the surface…
Sandy
Your Hee Haw comment made me laugh out loud. I also snorted at the Accutane treated pores. snorting is not attractive and you inspired it so I’m a little peeved.
I’m surprised your so well adjusted too.
My parents watched Dallas every Friday night. It explains a lot. Do you think I have a case?
All of our cars had an 8-track stereo, and all we could listen to was Mac Davis. I suppose I should thank my mom for letting us listen to Barbra Streisand in the house. Wonder how much “cultural deprivation” is worth these days? I mean, we didn’t even get to listen to the Beatles!
Sorry about your similar torture. Hee Haw — I hear ya.
Suppressed Montovoni and Johnny Mathis, I too was so tortured with the best memories of my childhood.
I guess this is the opposite of the parents handing a bill to the children when they turn 18.
Diapers 3 years 1500$
Food 18 Years 45000$
Clothing 18 years 7000$
Utilities/Rent 18 Years 150000$
(Not counting extras birthday parties, treats, etc.)
What makes me mad about this case is that initially they were awarded $50,000 and that it had to go to appeals court before it was made right. Wow that is just wrong.
And let me just say, I am so so sorry you had to suffer the injustice of your father being a Ute!
I read about these two yokels, too. I just had to laugh at them. I also *love* that their dad was part of the team of attorneys that brought the suit against their mother. Cute. Real cute.
P.S. I grew up without a television and my mom made me read books, do chores, and babysit my siblings FOR FREE. Oh the humanity!
I have seen some scary news reports from around the country where a high schooler gets upset because his parents enforce some silly rule like, “No you may not hang out with your friends who are doing drugs.” The upset teen goes to the school counselor. The counselor sympathyzes, then calls child protective services, who actually come in and take action against these terrible abusive parents.
As a denizen of the Chicago ‘burbs, can I just say how delighted I am that justice worked in this case. Our legal/judicial track record is a tad murky. However, what isn’t murky is a need for some kind of justice for repressed Champagne Lady memories. Too many of us suffered at the hands of Lawrence Well and his ilk.
Aw man! I coulda been so stinkin’ rich by now, just by virtue of being forced to sit at the table for family dinner for 18 years. Of course, I would’ve lost it all when my own kids sued for being forced to take their own clean laundry to put away in their drawers.
Easy come, easy go.