I just looked at that picture again this morning and wondered where that little girl went, and why in the world I should be beating her up for things that weren't her fault. It makes me sad that I perpetuated the abuse, in a way -- after somebody else stopped beating her up, I took over. She was a sweet little kid and didn't deserve what she got. The adult me aches for her, but there's some anger there too, for not valuing her.

Gregory (T) and I have been talking a lot lately about validation and how to find it
and where to reasonably look for it. I've invalidated that poor little kid for years.
I wish I could just hug her and tell her I love her and that it wasn't her fault
she got stuck with rotten grownups.

I dunno. I'm still sad.

Candy