(((((brookwest)))))
I am so sorry that you were abandoned, not loved the way you needed to be loved. Your feelings of emptyness is something that happens way too often and truely leaves so many children to grow up with low self esteem and and overall sense of vulnerability. No, it really isn't fair and until people are truely educated on how to raise a healthy child, things are not truely going to change Im afraid. Sigh.....it would be so much easier to finance education for this than all this dealing with the results of so many confused people that cannot seem to function in society, not their fault. It is truely backwards, that is the sad truth.

You are doing your best to establish boundaries, keep your boundaries no matter what your sister says or does, but keep in mind her world is probably narrow due to a lack as well. Unfortunately you cannot fix her, you can only continue to do your best to work on yourself and your family.

It is also very common for people who struggle with any kind of mental illness or lack to be very misunderstood. I can raise my hand on that one and I am sure that many members here would raise their hands as well. So, with that common knowledge everyone has to self protect and do their best to distance from people who present them with unsupportive messages of any kind.

If you need to protect your personal well being by NOT attending family functions than that is perfectly fine. Many people DO have to do that to maintain a healthier
psychological balance.

(((((Hugs)))))

Open Eyes