Gaslighting Grandchildren

Gaslighting

Persistent Denial: The abuser outright denies they said or did something, even with proof.

Countering Memory: They challenge your recollection of events, often saying "that never happened"

 Trivializing Feelings: They dismiss your emotions, telling you that you are "overreacting".

Distortion of Reality: They twist facts or the environment to make you doubt your mental stability.

Isolation: The abuser may alienate you from friends and family to make you more dependent on them. 

"Oh you're here too??" 

Well it was our grandchild's birthday, so why wouldn't we be?

Did you really think you would be the only guest?

Wedging yourself in and taking on a role that you didn't earn through blood sweat and tears is an unearned role. You didn't birth the kids, so stay on the outside. You didn't pay for their education. You got to do all the fun stuff. The Seagull Syndrome.

But that wasn't enough. From afar. "Liking" and "commenting" as soon as a picture is posted. 

All this and arguing that you had every right. Telling us we had it all wrong. Gaslighting.

We can all enjoy the grandchildren. But they are ours not yours so let us come first.

We did not have it all wrong. It's hard to say it and hard to face up to what really happened. 

Denying it and turning it around.

It must be you it can't be me.

Why can't you see it was actually you? Do we have to spell it out? Do we have to state the obvious? Then we become the problem in your eyes. 

We've seen this movie before in another family branch. We told you about that.

We are making things harder and heavier, not easier and lighter like they used to be? Really?