This letter was inspired from Christine at Self Made Chick after a comment I made about my parents and how they are “obnoxious and self centered people”. Christine has successfully managed to leave the cubicle of work and carve her own life in the freelancing industry. Something I have personally managed to achieve not so long ago. You can read this in my post Self Employed in 7 Month.
Yesterday my dad made a comment that really got my blood boiling again. He and his wife (my mother in law) have traveled Australia in the last 3 years stopping by at our house infrequently to spend some time in the area. Yesterday they went to attend an opening of a big new shopping centre in town, where some 100 million dollars were being invested by the center’s management.
Upon returning dad said ” that would be something for you guys. Now would be a good time to open your own restaurant and cash in on the obvious, since they (the shopping center) wouldn’t invest that kind of money if it wasn’t worthwhile”.
That statement alone was enough to write this following letter to my parents. For some reason I doubt that they actually care about the way I’m thinking, or where I’m coming from. But if it helps just one of you to do what YOU want to do in life and not what your parents are trying to project onto you, then go ahead and do it!
Dear mum and dad,
It was inevitable that I write this letter to you, since it had to be done eventually. But before I go into my little rant, let me say how grateful I am about the fact that you raised me as a decent human being. From you I learned about respecting others. The irony here is that you don’t seem to practice what you preach.
I also learned to address older people with respect and helping them while trying to board a plane, bus or train. Hell, I’m even know to occasionally carry their shopping to their car if I see them struggling with their load.
Further to this you taught me how to behave correctly when approaching a group of people (does this exclude my friends) and only speak when spoken to.
You allowed me to have a decent education, visit a decent school and learn the basics of society and its behaviors. Even though today I sometimes wonder what schools are REALLY good for? Never mind, since this is totally beyond the scope of this letter I won’t bore you with my own views.
I think it is fair to say that I grew up to be a decent human being with all the good and bad character traits I have.
But here is what really gets to me.
When you suggested to me yesterday why I should open a restaurant in town I realized that you still don’t belief into me and my dreams. How can you be so condescending! Yes, I did fail in MLM (like you snickeringly bring the point across when you said “I told you so”) but so what! It was the stepping stone I needed to get to where I am now. How come total strangers whom I never met before believe into me so much more than you ever have?
I think I proved to anyone by now that I’m quite capable of running my own business.
So what is with you and your total discredit with me and my business? And then you have the guts to take up my time and ask me to interrupt my business day to do all kinds of tasks for you. If I was to count all the times I have spent for you and your (urgent issues - mind you, you are pensioned aren’t you) in the past 3 years, it would be weeks. Weeks of income lost mind you, but you don’t care about that, do you? It’s all about you - and then you again.
Isn’t it strange that my own blood behaves like total obnoxious pricks when it comes to my online business? How about some understanding - or at least trying to understand me and what I actually do. Is it really too much to ask for?
After all, I have managed to escape the slavery of working in a kitchen for a measly salary. Shouldn’t that be enough to be commended from you. You ought to be happy with me instead of trying to project your own (failed, or non existent dreams) onto me. You know, not everybody is happy to live a boring mediocre life.
And just for the record dad: No, I’m not F*@!#ng interested to get back into hospitality ever! And that includes running my own restaurant. Did you get that? I hope you did, since I’m so sick of having to tell you that I’m actually very happy now.
You know, it really sucks being put down from you all the time while trying to follow and actively working and living my dreams.
But then you always were good at putting other people down. It is sad really but that is the reality. Both you and mum have never ever encouraged me to “just go for it”. And I guess you will never change either. Instead you expect me to change to FIT into your own beliefs.
Well I’m afraid to say that this won’t ever happen. See, in the past I was happy to discuss people (I’m ashamed to admit this actually), but today I’m happy to discuss ideas and business related subjects. While this might bore you, it actually bores me to discuss people and the same things you seem to go on about every time we see each other. Discussing ideas, dreams and business however helps me and many others to fullfill their own dreams in life.
Discussing people is so yesterday and I can’t stand listening to another episode of what “your sister said at the last family gathering”. Please, cut her a break and let the past be the past and concentrate on the good things in the world for a change.
Anyway, I had to let you guys know why I’m so deliriously happy here in Australia. Besides following our dream to migrate to the land of our dreams, there was another reason for our move all those years ago. To be as far away as possible from all the negativity you so clearly project. Carving out a new life far away from gossip, far from a mediocre life and the constant bickering between family and relatives made me realize how important it is to concentrate on the good things in life.
It is called escapism and those who do escape, do it for a reason. To get away from their current circumstances and build a new reality. Sure, I could have stayed and endured boring family get together’s, worked hard for a boss that I hate and then die of a heart attack before I took my pension. Oh, yeah, before you mention it, allow me please: yes, I can also die of a heart attack now, any day, but there is one huge difference. If I do, it will be with a happy mind, not a frustrated one.
While I respect your views, I’m glad that you decided to go back to your country dealing with the same old. This leaves me more energy to enjoy my life here in Australia.
I thank you for what you have done while I was younger and maybe one day (when I rake in the millions) you will finally start to see that supporting me would have been the right thing to do. I’m just afraid it might be too late then.
Your daughter, always
Monika
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Will they answer on here? I wonder what they’ll say :/
WOW! Talk about a tongue lashing! You go girl!
To bad there are so many parents who are doing this to their children. My parents think pretty much the same way as your dad. And yet, they are nice people, who did their best for their children. It’s only that when they think of this “best” they project their dreams onto us, not understanding that our dream is different.
@ Jylan: no they won’t since they have absolute no desire to involve themselves into my business. I wrote it more so to show others that despite a very limiting parental mindset we can do whatever we achieve to do.
We don’t have to stay victim to their behavior all through our life.
@ Brent: yeah, I was on a roll.
@ Simonne: it’s funny you should say that. My parents are nice too, but only with strangers. While I’m sure they had my best interest at heart when I was little, their limited mindset has turned them into bitter 60 somethings that are now spending most of their days discussing other people and what they did and should have done.
It is a sad reality that I see being carried out in many households. And since we can’t choose our parents, I’m glad we can choose our friends.
Hi Monika - what a tremendous post! I hope you feel better after publishing it.
I must say, I give you a lot of credit for moving beyond the negative comments and upbringing and choosing to pursue a life that you think will make you happy.
All the best!!
Mark
@ Mark: yes I do actually. I guess it is part of my healing in some ways and finally make peace with my past. I’ve had some energy work done on me in the last two weeks. Not sure whether this actually brought our all these posts I have been publishing lately.
And thank you for the support. Gosh, if it wasn’t for people like you, I don’t know what I would do to be honest. It is great to have the support I have from my new online friends.
This is awesome! A rant like this is probably something that everyone could benefit from trying. Good thing you moved thousands of miles away from these people. There are few things more debilitating than negative, gossiping people that know exactly how to push your buttons. You rock for going against the grain and doing your own thing!
@ Christine: You are so right, I felt like I was being crushed alive whenever we would get together and the more personal development I did, the worse it got.
Believe me, there were many tears and a lot of heartache until I was able to finally distance myself mentally from my parents. I had to do it in order to survive and I’m glad that you understand this because I respect you for who you are, another strong person.
Hi Monika
I’ve been very fortunate to have supportive parents. My father however is a business owner and because of this his mindset is a little more receptive to risk than the average Joe. When I told him 4 years ago I was leaving the W-2 world and venturing off on my own, surprisingly he gave me his blessing. However, my younger brother has had a little more resistance in his efforts to cure his entrepreneurial seizures. For some reason, my mom and dad haven’ supported his business with the same enthusiasm as they did mine. Who knows! Parents will be parents; they grow old and sometimes get a little kooky.
I share this with you for a reason, starting a biz is difficult any way you slice it. It is difficult with a full support staff – I know this from experience. Starting one without a support staff is something I can’t image. So I’m impressed that you have made it. You are clearly a strong women with great potential. It says a lot for who you are as a person and business owner. Clearly great things are in your future.
I’ve enjoyed your posts and look forward to continually being uplifted.
-LA
@ Luke: wow, you brought tears in my eyes. I agree, I’m a strong person, sometimes called stubborn actually. I appreciate that you shared this bit of you with me and my readers.
You are spot on when you say we need support “staff” behind us to achieve something worthwhile. I guess it stems from the need to be loved by others and when we have people who belief into us, no matter what it can lead us to greatness beyond anything we could ever dream off.
If it wasn’t for John my husband, I wouldn’t have managed either. He is my rock, my soul mate and the love of my life. Therefore despite all of the negativity from my parents I count myself very lucky for having found such a beautiful person that is willing to share his journey on earth with me.
Monika,
Thank you for sharing your letter with us. It must have taken a lot of courage to do this. At the same time, it is very inspiring.
My wife and I are also in the middle of a big life change (we are trying to move from Canada to New Zealand), and I am personally at the beginning of a change to self-employment (slowly, on the side - but it will happen!)
I have also taken a look at your post “Self Employed in 7 Months” and that has really hit home with me.
Thanks for the words.
(PS - I had tried twice earlier today to comment, perhaps I got caught in a spam filter or something, sorry for the duplicate comments…)
@ Brett: it’s great to see you here. I’m sorry for the confusion with the comments. I actually set it to automatic approval after 2 previously approved comments to keep on top of spammers.
Because I live in Australia and most of my readers are in the US, there is always a time delay until I get up and approve everything. At least this will help some of my regular readers to get published instantly.
Moving to New Zealand, wow, that is indeed a big step all the way from Canada. But good on you for going for it. I will bet on it that you’ll love it over there, all though the Kiwi’s do talk a little strange and it takes some getting used to.
I commend you for taking the plunge as this is a big change in anybody’s life. (I can attest to it, since I’ve done it many of times)
It be great to have you a little closer to Oz and if i can do anything to help, just let me know please.
Monika,
Yes, it is a bit far away from here, but we do have a leg up as we vacationed there last summer (our summer, their winter of course) for two weeks and loved it.
On day three, my wife asked, “so when can we move here?” I’m not sure whether I’ll get there as an engineer or as a writer, but the end goal is to get there and be a writer while there… we loved the people, the accent, the food and the beer - and the countryside was quite simply the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.
Thank you for the offer to help - that means a lot really - and if I can ever return the favour, somehow, let me know.
Brett
@ Brett: hey, I know you already since you been crusing the same sites I have discovered lately. You know, the boys at Mens with Pens, Christine, Naomi and what not. So you are kind of familiar to me already anyway and I’d never think you naggy.
Aren’t we girls supposed to be naggy anyway. LOL
Love your wifes’ attitude in what she said while holidaying in NZ. Yes, it is a gorgeous country and no deadly animals like here in OZ either.
The people are indeed very friendly and the food, oh my goodness, loverly indeed.
I’ve holidayed over there three times already and would go back any time. Could even imagine living there as the scenery is stunning.
You should be able to work as a writer no problem since this kind of work can be done from anywhere, right?
You might also want to check out this website. Seek NZ
@ Monika,
Yes, that is true, I suppose you know a bit about me by now! As far as your point about girls being naggy… Hmm, I’m not brave enough to answer that question…
It did bring a smile to my face when my wife said that, because the reason we ended up going to NZ was really that she wanted to stop *me* from nagging *her* constantly about it! She had been to Oz as a teenager and perhaps figured that the two countries were one in the same.
I have never been to Australia, but I do know that the two lands are quite unique - both beautiful, but certainly not the same.
Yes, my desire to switch over to writing for a living is part and parcel of our desire to live where we want to live. I have a vision in my mind’s eye of where we want to have a house - easy, because we have been there now.
Thank you for the link. I have also been speaking regularly with an employment consultant in Auckland, so I expect that it will happen if we keep working at it and stay positive.
Enjoy your weather today! We are expecting 25 cm of snow here…
@ Brett: that is so cool, I can’t remember when I saw that much snow last. Must have been when I was a kid on a skiing holiday.
On the contrary we have plenty of sunshine here after all the recent floods and life by the beach couldn’t be better. I’m sure you guys will get jobs and all sorted before you know it and hop on a plane to sunnier locations.
You can still ski in NZ and Oz if you like snow too as you probably already know anyway. Here is a link to my local niche site to see in what part of the country I live. Yeppoon Chronicle
Make sure to click on the beach web cam (if it is dark I’m asleep)
As long as my two daughters become professional golfers and make millions on the LPGA tour I don’t care what they do with themselves…
I shall remember this letter in case the day comes I find myself transferring my dreams onto my kids.
That was very moving Monika.
@ Griz: why do you need them to make millions? Don’t you make millions yet yourself? LOL
Golfing sounds like fun (occasionally for me anyway) I reckon the professional circle is quite mad really. But then they are outside all day and cash in big IF they are good.
Thanks for your words Griz.
@ Monika,
The snow certainly is beautiful - and it is much more tolerable since we got a snowblower!
Yes, I was showing a co-worker the web cam at the ski hill that is on Mt. Ruapehu and he thought it rather funny as he never imagined skiing and NZ in the same sentence. Then again I don’t think he thought about how mountainous it is there…
Thank you for that link - wow, you live in a very nice place. The waves look gorgeous today (I love the ocean!)
@ Brett: I climbed that volcano who sits opposite Mt. Ruapehu. That was very hard work, but well worth it.
Yeah, most people don’t realize that NZ and Oz have a lot of snow in certain areas in winter. In fact, the skiing areas of Australia are bigger than the country of Switzerland.
As for where I live, yes, it is a georgeous spot. Many would kill to live here actually.
Reading your open letter to your parents allows a glimpse into your inner thoughts and the frustrations, hurt and sense of being trapped were there for all to see.
After writing and publishing this letter, I hope you are free of the shackle of expectation from your parents, and live the life you truly deserves and aspires.
In an Asian society, such imposition of parental expectation over their children is unfortunately the norm, rather than the exception.
@ Cheewee: there was a lot of frustration for many years to be honest and I had to learn to not worry about others but my own dreams and protect them no matter what.
It shocks me to see that this is common practice in Asia. In the end, we have but two choices. We can either accept it, or do our own thing.
Either way is hard, but what matters to me is the fact that I have to live my life and be happy and that is the way I chose.
@ Monika - you climbed there? You are my hero(ine)! I will climb Ruapehu someday, and every other mountain on the chain that runs through New Zealand.
I’ll tell you what - I won’t kill to get to where you are, however, once in NZ, we’ll keep it on the list of places to visit when we hop over to Oz.
@ Brett: heroine, cool I might be a comic star one day too
I tell you it was hard work though. A last minute decision by the two men I was traveling with (John being one. Then bad weather loomed over us after a sunny morning and a helicopter had to rescue a child who fell somewhere on the volcano slope.
The best part was conquering the devil inside trying to make me stop. And then the view from the top - oh my gosh, how awesome.
Going up took us 5 hours with 2 steps up - 1 step back. Then coming down 40 minutes by wearing socks on our hands and running through the soft fine volcanic sand and grit.
You guys will always welcome here if you ever make it.
@ Monika,
That made me smile! One thing I loved about NZ that I miss here is how fast the weather could change. I thought that was really neat.
The devil inside is always what holds us back. Nothing in the external world can really prevent us from achieving our goals. Just fear of failure - or is it fear of success?
We will take you up on that someday. We will get there.
@ Brett: cool, I love to make people smile and laugh. Maybe that is why I sometimes act like a “comedian gone mad”.
You said it nicely there, it is actually both:
Fear of failure and
fear of success
They both played a major role in my past until I learned to recognize the signs and act accordingly.
Now I’m getting excited of you guys moving to NZ and I don’t even know you personally.;-) See what the Internet can do?
@ Monika,
Well, keep it up! (I have a picture of you running down the side of the volcano with socks on your hands…)
I’ve started to find, that in my own struggles with becoming who I truly want to be, and living where I truly want to live, that the fears are more those of success than of failure. Failure is always part of every day life, we just get up and try again. Success comes from the courage to try harder.
Sometimes we need encouragement, and it can be a small thing, just a gentle nudge or a word.
This is what you have done for me, the past few days - yes, the power of the internet. It makes me happy knowing that you did it, and inspires me with the confidence that we will do it too.
@ Brett: I will try to do my best. I might actually have a pic with those socks on my hands and if I find it, you’ll get a special signed edition.
I’m happy to have provided you with some inspiration. And I’m also honored to have gotten to know you better. I look forward to our first beer together.
Or shall we make that a flat white instead? Hehehe…
@ Monika,
You have a knack for it so I’m sure it won’t be a problem
if you do find that picture it would be kind of fun to see it!
I am also happy to have made your acquaintance here, and I’ll take you up on that beer someday. Or a flat white.
(I have to ask, what beer would you recommend in Oz? I ask because where I live, we can only get Fosters, much like we could only get Steinlager as the NZ beer. Not that I mind either, but when we vacationed in NZ, I asked quite a few people what they’d recommend and I got to try some really interesting brands!)
@ Brett: Fosters is the beer we call tourist beer here in Oz. I admit to have drunk it myself before I set foot into Oz but in the meantime I moved away and am now happily enjoying XXXX.
I haven’t seen one Aussie drinking Fosters here. If you do you are called a wuss actually. Coming from Europe I don’t get that whole macho thing, but then I’m a chick and not a bloke either.
Tassie beer is also quite popular here as well as overseas brews (beats me).
@ Monika,
That sounds like “Molson Canadian” is here in Canada (imaginative name, isn’t it). At the risk of offending any Canadian drinkers reading this, I call it “training beer”…
so I don’t blame you for calling Fosters tourist beer. It doesn’t seem half bad, but I figured there’d be better brands.
Now XXXX, that intrigues me - I had to look it up, so now I can say “pot a fourex thanks mate” with the best of them.
Here in Canada I’d recommend anything from the Unibroue stable (Maudite, La Fin Du Monde, Trois Pistoles) - this stuff comes from where James lives (sort of) and it is very tasty.
It’s funny, the fellow at the first little store I visited while in Auckland said, “well, I’d drink Steinlager, but I’d rather drink …” and listed about six different things! I guess it was the same thing as Fosters…
Thanks for sharing that. I took ten years to realize that the only way I was going to be able to approach life by my terms without my parents and extended family forever trying to undermine my efforts was to move very far away. They are, as Christine put so well, “negative, gossiping people that know exactly how to push your buttons.” And they definitely did a good job of debilitating me. Sometimes distance is the only solution.
BTW, congrats on making it to full-time income in 7 months. I’ve been tracking your progress as I make my own.
@ Dan (DVS): Seems like we both managed to escape the clause of mental jail.
Great to hear you are working on your own success story and I’d love to hear about your progress whenever you feel like sharing.
You are obviously a very strong man since it does require strength to do what we both have done.
[…] A Letter to My Parents […]
Monika, this was a brave thing for you to not only write but to share with the rest of us.
My parents partly support and partly don’t support what I do. My dad called me a poet once, and that felt REALLY good.
I know they want the best for me, but I really wish they were behind me 100%.
I’ve had to go back to full(ish)-time work for the past month or so. My dad wishes it was more long term and when I tell him I’m glad it’s not, you can hear the ‘I don’t get it’ pause. But then, they do come from a generation of ‘work for the man ’til you drop’, ‘enjoy life when you retire’, ‘work 5 jobs in the meantime’.
Anyway, I’ll stop here, before I start writing a frikkin blog post.
Thank you for your openness and honesty in sharing this letter. Karma owes you a mango
take care…
@ ebele; thank you, I love mangoes too just like you. The closest I have come to obsession with the fruit is eating mangoes straight for 10 days on a detox at the beginning of this year.
I must have munched some 6 mangoes every day.
Going back to work from being self employed sucks, but is sometimes a necessity for us entrepreneurs. I had to do the same after my failed MLM experience but I always knew it wouldn’t be for good.
To hear that your parents are partially supportive is half sad and half great. As you say the generation of baby boomers and those before them never dreamed of doing their own thing so in a way I understand when they start to ask question.
But when it comes to downright making fun of your kids and telling them they are not good enough, this is something I will never accept.
I guess my rant was a partial healing for me to put that part of my past behind me and move on with my eyes toward the future. (Naturally the pain of being mentally abused will never totally disappear).
Thanks for sharing this part about your life with us too. It is important to see that we are all humans and we all deal with some kind of ghosts in our cupboards somewhere.
I was thinking of going on a mango detox diet last summer but….
The job I’ve been doing is only temporary (and I’m lucky ‘cos it’s the best temp job I’ve EVER had. I get to work from home on some days, I get to walk into the office at 10.30/11am, and the lady I work for is fantastic.)
I do know it’s not where I’m meant to be, but I recognise I have a lot to do with where I find myself and where I need to be.
I know my parents are proud of me. They’re just not entirely used to a free-spirited 33-yr-old like me
Maybe they thought it was something I’d outgrow in my 20’s.
I agree - there’s no excuse for putting your kids down - however, it does make you wonder how they were brought up.
I believe in *rants - better out than in.
*At times I call it ‘howling to the moon’.
And thank you, hun, for sharing your story, for in doing that, you’ve encouraged some people to do the same.
a mango in your palm…
ebele
@ ebele: howling to the moon sounds like cool since I love the moon. I appreciate the mango present since I know how much they mean to you - so thank you.
Your temp job sounds indeed like fun. Being able to work flexible is a dream for many who are still work in the cubicle. In the end the only thing that matters is you having fun, regardless what you do.
And setbacks are here to make us step ahead in time.
Monika years ago I delivered one of these “letters” to my father (face to face) I remember to this day seeing the look on his face when I told him, I was tired of trying to be him. He was hurt. I wondered after that had I don’t the right thing. Before he passed he sat me down with his own “letter” He said and I quote, “Donnie you are the strongest man I have ever known and I have known plenty, I want you to know I like who you have become and I am proud to have you for my son”
Your post rekindled that memory for me. This past week my 25 year old son called me for lunch. I sat in front of the restaurant and as he approached his pace quickened and he was happy to see me as we hugged one another. If I had my way he would be a major league baseball player. He is not. He sells advertising for a radio station. He told me Dad its so easy for me “its just building relationships with people” isn’t that what you taught me?
I told him son I like who you have become and Im proud to have you for my son.
As children we seemingly never quite hit the mark with our parents. As parents we always want better for our children.
I suspect your parents are proud of you too. Apparently they are not real good at expressing it. Sometimes that takes time, but it will come.
Meeting people where they are and not where you expect them to be is difficult, impossible for some.
Your parents are not atypical and they have caused you much hurt. perhaps they have made you feel sick at times, no matter what you tried.
Monika , you go your own way, and remember this. “you cant make yourself sick trying to make someone else well”
“you cant make yourself sick trying to make someone else well”
I like that…
take care…
@ Don: nice saying at the end. I’m trying to be inspiring in telling my story. In the end, that is all I have. As for my parents. What I wrote in this letter was attempted to be discussed in person on many occasions. Unfortunately this didn’t bear any fruit whatsoever.
It isn’t for lack of trying believe me and yes they have caused me much grief and hurt for many years. I can’t change this and it looks like neither can they - so be it.
[…] A Letter To My Parents from TheWritersManifesto.com […]
Monika, I share the same situation as you have, as with many others I believe. I’m still in that environment so everyday can be a battle for me and sometimes I find it difficult to differentiate between working for myself and working to prove people wrong. So far so good though. However, I do know that my parents just want me to be ‘comfortable’ and it’s just that their vision of that does not coincide with mine so I just grin and bear it and concentrate on my own objectives.
Wish you continued happiness and health, Monika!!
@ YC: thank you for the well wishes. I do hope for you that you will stay strong and follow your path as well. So far you have been doing great and your parents will hopefully see one day that your vision is what makes you happy in the end.
Nice to see you back here again. It’s been a while.
[…] A Letter To My Parents from TheWritersManifesto.com […]
[…] Vic on Mar 20, 2008 in Bloggers The inspiration behind this vlog is Monika at The Writers Manifesto. Monika wrote an article that had me laughing my ass off and at the same time it had my wife teared […]
Monika,
Bravo on the letter. This is my first comment and I have only visited your site a couple times. However, I like what you offer.
I had previously written a similar letter and verbally passed on my frustrations. My father wanted me to work for GM and he was going to get me in and I passed on the job paying $27.00/hr. I struggled for years and put myself through college. My father being fairly successful retired at 50, I never seemed to measure up. However, I started to share my accomplishments and show him what I was doing. I currently make close to the wage I turned down. Atleaset, I am not working in the shop.
Earlier this year I received an email about how proud of me he was with my ability to succeed on my terms. I truly hope you are able to share your successes with your parents and they are able to tell you how proud they are of you.
PS although you obviously don’t need their approval it is nice when it is received. Good Luck
[…] was the . Recently we have been talking up a storm on Skype and I have only grown to like her more. She is an accomplished writer and will contribute weekly to the site with articles of her choosing. I told her I would post her […]
[…] Letter to parents […]
[…] reading: A Letter to My Parents by Monika Mundell. (This is an extreme case, but it shows you what can sometimes be […]
Monika - this was a brave letter. Will they actually read it? My parents would rather have all their teeth pulled out than read my blog.
In fact, there’s scary similarities between your parents and mine. My husband just read this post and said that he didn’t realise my parents had another daughter!
[…] we get in the UK. Monika Mundell emigrated to Australia to start a new life and get away from her negative family. It was hard work for the first few years, but now she’s living the life she wants and a few […]
Great post, and I really can empathize. With me there were several years I just didn’t to my family while pursuing my dreams. I moved to Alaska (although I do like the Australia move
) and once my parents realized I would choose my dreams and my own life without them over them and being torn down all the time, eventually they started trying to reach out and understand things from my point of view. Good letter, and I’m with you on the freelancing and finding a dream job - it’s worth every risk. Thanks for sharing!