My dad used to tell us these old Italian folk tales, and i feel like i just figured one out recently. I remember being puzzled by it when i first heard it. He said this man had this donkey that he decided to train to live on less and less food, to save money. Then the man said, darn my luck, three days after i teach the donkey to survive on no food, she dies! Now i wonder if he saw that that was how my mother was treating me, teaching me to survive on less and less attention. Because honestly, the first few times i heard this story, it sounded perfectly reasonable to me. Just a little positive attention would have made such a big difference. What was wrong with them? And we are smart, talented women - thats what gets me. My t says over and over, most parents WANT kids like you, that study etc.