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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago

reflections on: why is talking to my mom so difficult, challenging, energy draining

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8/16/2023
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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

particularly when theres a tension in the air, the frequency with which she shares projections/judgments as truths that are between slightly to quite triggering is disorienting and activating

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8/16/2023
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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

there's a speed to them, on top of her inclination to jump from topic to topic that just feels like kind of an onslaught, and im constantly backpedaling trying to stay grounded/centered https://t.co/ExRB3keIu3

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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• over 2 years ago

Hour 1 of being home: caught off center by the casual onslaught of directions from my mom “do this, do that”. All clearly from love but I already noticed a spark of annoyance. Hold onto your butts it’s gonna be a month alright

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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

today the best i could do was to just listen for areas of misunderstanding and give space to them - "i hear that you perceive/believe that, makes sense that you do, and that's not my experience at all"

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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

eg she doesnt feel that i ever help or care about her, my experience is that ive spent more energy on her than anyone else, arguably too much, and she never perceives it.

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8/16/2023
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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

wasnt on my A game today, but i am proud that at one point i stopped and said "i'm not feeling heard, if you arent willing/able to hear my point i want to end the conversation", to which she said she did want to understand and was eventually to some satisfaction

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8/16/2023
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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

i hate trying to justify that i care about her, and repeatedly expressed an unwillingness to try and convince her. the whole point is that when i do things for her im not trying to keep score, so i largely forget them

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8/16/2023
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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

eventually we did arrive at a consensus that i do in fact care and put effort/love towards her, its just often not what she's wanting. so i can try to ask more and try and do less guessing, and she can share more what she wants

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8/16/2023
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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

she also offered that she would try not to talk about my dad in front of me, knowing that it's difficult for me, which i was taken aback by. i responded by saying i would try my best to notice if it's happening and process my feelings elsewhere.

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8/16/2023
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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

this is actually the conclusion that i came to about the situation. was surprised that she proactively offered it, but also felt like we kind of breezed by it and didnt give it sufficient space to land https://t.co/1Cve9ZWSI2

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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago

That’s what happened this last time, and I think why the rift has lasted longer (multi days). Because I actually think that largely for matters between just her and I, we can communicate pretty decently

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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

i found myself able to be more present and openhearted over time in the conversation, more of a sense that she was listening and more of a sense of wanting to listen, and a sense of more collaboration and less tension

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8/16/2023
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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

at the end i shared that i had something that i want to share with her, but feel to afraid and insufficient trust in myself and her to share. asked her if she'd be willing to have the conversation with our therapist, to which she said no

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8/16/2023
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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

at the end i shared that i had something that i want to share with her, but feel to afraid and insufficient trust in myself and her to share. asked her if she'd be willing to have the conversation with our therapist, to which she said no

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8/16/2023
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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

i expressed sadness that she'd rather not hear than see the therapist but we left it at that

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8/16/2023
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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

this is what i wanted to share https://t.co/R62Xo3I9z2

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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago

As a son, I trust(ed) my mom to protect me. When she attacks and hurts me, she betrays that trust. Unfortunately it’s not something I can trust her to do, and now as an adult, I have to protect myself

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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago
Replying to @justavagrant_

We had the (first part of the) conversation later https://t.co/MPbjPrYJHm

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Johnson (TC House Lisbon -Dec)@justavagrant_• about 2 years ago

so we had the first part (half?) of a conversation that feels pretty foundational - sharing this resentment/pain that i dont think ive ever forgiven her for - the sense that she betrayed the trust of me as an innocent, helpless child https://t.co/R62Xo3I9z2

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