A Martyr No More

The kids weren’t allowed to cry. Their dad would mock them or intimidate them when they did. I’ve heard the kids describe coming to our room in the middle of the night as a young child after waking up with a nightmare. Their dad stopped them at the door with a forceful, “Stop crying! Just talk!” Of course they couldn’t, so then they were terrified and humiliated for having a need. They had to go back to bed without being comforted.