November 5 2007: Crouched Crying in a Corner
Of all the things I imagined myself doing on my twenty-first birthday, being crouched in a corner of my bathroom, silently crying for half an hour as my family eats my birthday dinner without me…well, it wasn’t one of the things I had in mind.
When you’re verbally abused by your own father for minutes on end for the simple act of making your younger brother eat celery (or you know, something green and healthy) in addition to the fried chicken and rice he has on his plate, there’s something wrong. Last time I checked, covering all your food groups was a good thing. Ensuring that your child eats something other than fried chicken and rice for dinner is a good thing. Yelling at your daughter on her twenty-first birthday for encouraging good eating habits in your shit-for-brains son is not a good thing.
Call me biased, but honestly, was I in the wrong?
On a happier note, I did treat myself to a new haircut today: layered for greater texture, and thinned so I won’t be overheated in the upcoming Australian summer.
I also bought myself a dress for my birthday party later this month. It’s a bit plain now (staid? demure?), but I’m going to be dressing it up with strappy shoes, lots of bling, and clinching in the waist with a belt. I may even look into getting a spray tan to match the bronze in the dress, as it makes me look very pale.
Thanks for your birthday wishes everyone, it’s very, very sweet of you, and definitely brightened up my day.
28 Responses to “Crouched Crying in a Corner”
Leave a Reply
I reserve the right to edit or delete your comment as I see fit, though I only delete comments from anonymous commenters, or people with multiple aliases. Using a genuine name/email combination will ensure that your comment is approved.
Im sorry about you parents hun, no one deserves that on their birthday, especially you *BIG HUG*
Your hair looks great! Very cute cut :D
That’s a cute dress, I don’t think it’s too plain, but like you said with the right accessories it’ll look smashing :D
Noemi on November 5 2007 #
Hopefully your Dad apologizes later, if he isn’t a total ass.
Happy belated birthday, btw. Would me saying your new haircut and dress totally make me salivate (in a good way!) make you feel any better? Even a little bit? ^^
Chantelle on November 5 2007 #
Not in the wrong, definitely not. I’m constantly shocked by the way your parents treat you…and amazed that you have the gumption to put up with it. All the more power to you.
The haircut is gorgeous! I can’t say the dress does anything for me, what with being all flat on the hanger like that, but I’m sure you can rock it.
Leila on November 5 2007 #
Happy birthday hun! 21 years old already. You’re getting old!
I’m sending you a gift from Barcelona. I still have to stop by the post office though, but just so you know you can expect something from your left foot, ok?! :P
I know it’s been a while, but I haven’t been away completely. I kept checking your site. ;) And I actually want to start blogging again, but I forgot my password… >_< Err. I’ll send you an email about it..
And I’m really sorry about your dad… You were definitely not in the wrong. Hope you’re feeling better now.
Suse on November 5 2007 #
Aw I am sorry your birthday was like that. I hope you get an apology, I hate when Dad’s act like that. And of all the days, it had to be your 21st.
Nice dress, what happened to that fancy one you wanted though?
Bobbi-lee on November 5 2007 #
Happy birthday!
Well, it sounds like they coddle him and do the opposite to you. And what is more is after the fact: they left you there alone to cry, not coming to talk or make it better.
So for that part, theyre in the wrong.
for the first part, it is situational. I wasnt there so I cant determine that. You have a very strong viewpoint. However, I can think of a few times when my stepmom was being a complete bitch to me because I didnt like a certain food and my dad actually stuck up for me and told her to just leave me alone. I just didnt like those foods and the times he didnt stick up for me, I ended up exactly where you were: in a corner crying. So I cant tell you who was right and who was wrong. The answer is that it depends.
Skye on November 5 2007 #
Ew I hate anything to do with food + azn parents because it either ends up really good or really bad. :3 Usually the latter.
*hug*
Happy birthday! :D
Jenny on November 6 2007 #
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope you are having a great day (apart from that unfortunate incident with your father). Not sure it is still your birthday though…it is on my side of the globe.
And, btw, you look absolutely gorgeous :-D
Maik on November 6 2007 #
I’m late for your birthday (the 5th is today here ;)), but bonne fête!
Julie on November 6 2007 #
Your dad was definitely wrong and I am sorry you were crying.
Britney on November 6 2007 #
I wasn’t there, so I can’t say for sure, but geez, if your parents are going to make such a big deal about your obligation to care for your brother, shouldn’t they step back and let you do it?
I’m sorry anything so crappy had to happen on your birthday, though. Your haircut looks great.
Jack on November 6 2007 #
You were definitely not in the wrong; what a horrible thing to mar your birthday. Happy Birthday!
Amber on November 6 2007 #
… and I forgot to say! Nice hair cut. :P
Amber on November 6 2007 #
It depends on when this encouraging took place. If your parents were there as well, then you shouldn’t have done it. I’m saying this from experience.
My aunt and uncle also spoiled their youngest to no end. My late grandma having been a primary school teacher was used to chastising kids and making them behave by default. She did this once, when we were all on a trip. My cousin (3 years old) was jumping around some ditch in a rather dangerous way. My gran very mildly suggested to him that he should stop, lest he hurt himself. My uncle flipped out at her (gran was my aunt’s mother) for daring to chastise his own child.
So if that’s the case, your parents probably felt that you tried to undermine their authority. Yes, I read about how they practically left you to raise him. But they are still his parents, and also supreme authorities as far as his education/obedience goes.
My advice: don’t do it if your parents are around.
As for your intention: no it wasn’t a bad thing. But people are immensely proud, and thus get easily offended when their ego is “scratched”.
I love your highlights :-) And your glasses… and I’m stealing your eyebrows. Mine are constantly messy.
Vera on November 6 2007 #
I don’t think you are in the wrong at all. You’ve been caring for your brother all these years, and you have his best interests at heart.
I love your new haircut, and I bet your outfit will look even more fabulous once you’ve weaved your magic on it!
Oh, and:
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!
Emily on November 6 2007 #
Wow, they did that? Have a happy Birthday. Get lots of xD happiness!
Casey on November 6 2007 #
Happy Belated Birthday!
Well, I know how you feel. I get stuff like that constantly from my own father. But you’d expect that just for one day, especially on your birthday, you wouldn’t get reprimanded for actually doing the right thing!
There’s really no winning with them.
But your hair looks awesome! :)
Rafia on November 6 2007 #
Happy late birthday! /hugs/ Parents have a funny way of irrationally losing their tempers on Special Occasions – hope it didn’t spoil the celebration too much!
Su Lynn on November 6 2007 #
Belated happy birthday! Sorry about what happened with your dad, but lookie here! There’s a lot of people who love you! *hugs*
Aravis on November 6 2007 #
I don’t know about your dad, but mine would probably get mad at that. As Vera mentioned, it’s an authority thing. I don’t think it means you’re wrong, though. Whenever my brother does something wrong and I try to “discipline” him in some way, I get in trouble first.
Great haircut! I’m sure I’ve seen a picture of you before, but you look gorgeous and smarter than I expected 8-)
Kaylee on November 6 2007 #
The haircut is beautiful – and you look stunning.
I think you were perfectly in the right. When I was little, I ate my greens, and now I still do. In fact, I actually like them now. They should not have chastised you for that. *hug*
I hope, other than that, your birthday was amazing and you got lots of lovely presents and cards :D
Kelly on November 6 2007 #
awww *hugs* you were totally right! It’s okay, I spend my 16th birthday crying a lot too because of family crap.
But anyway…I love your haircut..cutting hair(in a good way) always makes one feel better. And the dress is very pretty…simple, but so cute and chic :D
marilyn on November 6 2007 #
I love you hair cut!
Kimmie on November 6 2007 #
Wait… what? I thought crying on any birthday after your 17th was normal?
That’s one sexy haircut. I had something similar a while back… expect more emo. :P
I hope that dress shows a lot of cleavage!
Nellie on November 6 2007 #
That sucks majorly… I think I’ve cried on a birthday too.. probably 16th or something… wasn’t pleasant.. blocked it out of memory.. u poor thing *hugz*
hope you celebrate ur 21st loud and happy =) I’m so sorry I can’t be there.. I have a folio due tomorrow and exam the day after so I really shouldn’t be online.. but hey..
have lots of fun *hugs* Definitely will catch up with you after I come back.. want anything from germany/HK?
Mish on November 6 2007 #
I constantly push my sister into eating something other than processed chicken and pot noodles, so from that point of view I would be totally behind you. On the other hand, if it were your parents who fed him the fried chicken and rice I can see how by questioning their choices they might feel you were undermining their responsibility.
Doesn’t make you any less right, and it certainly doesn’t mean your father should make you feel like shit on your 21st, but you know that already :)
Not sure about the dress but you’re the ‘fashionista’ so I’ll bow to your better taste and all – I’m sure it’ll go lovely with your new hair cut.
Jem on November 6 2007 #
I know I’m a few days late with the birthda wishes, but better late than never, right? :)
I hope the rest of your day was better. I think that whether or not it was right for you to critisize your brother [I think you had the right!], your dad still shouldn’t have yelled at you!
Your hair looks great, and I love the dress aswell!
Anna-Erica on November 7 2007 #
I guess it depends on how you made your brother eat his vegetables. If you stuffed the celery down his throat, I’d understand why your dad reacted like that, although yelling at you for more than a minute is a little extreme. In any other case, yelling is totally unnecessary. =/
I hope you feel better now. *e-hug*
Kycoo on November 7 2007 #