I have difficulty with friendships of either gender. I remember as far back as 2 years old, when I was forced to share a playpen with K, who was overbearing even at 2 years old, taking away my toys that I happily played with, which caused me to cry. It sounds foolish, but that memory has stuck with me for 44 years. My mom forced me to be friends with K because she and K's mom were pals. I think that is the worst thing you can do as a mother, force your children to be friends with your friend's children. Well, what if they don't get along?

Also, my mom constantly betrayed my trust growing up, telling her friends and relatives everything that I told her in confidence. Also, when I got blamed for something a boy at school did, she refused to believe me, EVEN after the boy's mother called to apologize to her and me for what they put me through. My mother STILL refused to believe it wasn't my fault. In 44 years that she's been my mother, she's never, ever apologized to me for hurting me, betraying me, lying to me, manipulating me.

So, if I meet women who are narcissistic, overbearing or have strong personalities who like to interrupt other people or be really sarcastic, that makes me avoid them like the plague. I can't stand women who are like that. I used to let those types of women use shame to control and manipulate me, the way my mother has my entire life, until recently now I won't allow that to happen anymore.