I quickly understood that as a young child because adults were openly afraid of my mom. I don't believe that understanding has to go back through your childhood. I think I fully understood the severity when they would rather disown me than go to therapy.

As my whole family has grown into adults and I have a family of my own I'm more understanding of what it means to raise a family riddled with mental illness. I couldn't imagine dealing with 4-5 un-dx'd MI kids. while having untreated MI, keeping house and working full time. I appreciate what they attempted to accomplish. I do remember the horrifying things that happened but that's part of fully accepting who they are. Yes people can do horrid things but that is a small part of who they are. There are many good qualities to everyone, yes I do mean everyone. If my "tragic" life taught me anything it's to be accepting and humans are inherently good.

I made it very clear to my son by the time he was 3 that I have a "head boo-boo". So he knew that before he realized all mom's didn't have cerebral palsy. Both illnesses he mourned over but I don't feel being young means you don't understand.