When You Say... I Hear

Memories…

And time have left me scarred…

When you say “You deserve better,”

I hear “We look down upon the lowly status you have chosen.”

When you say “You’re making a huge mistake,”

I hear “You have failed us and we are so eternally disappointed.”

When you say “This is like throwing yourself off of a cliff,”

I hear “You are crazy, irrational, insane, and this could never end well.”

When you say “We have so many big concerns,”

I hear “These giant, immovable obstacles will destroy everything we worked for in your life.”

When you say “We love you and just want the best for you,”

I hear “We need to control your life because you can’t make decisions for yourself.”

When you say “This isn’t the fairy tale we pictured for you,”

I hear “We will be forever upset if you don’t comply with our demands.”

When you say “We are trying to help you,”

I hear “We are trying to oppress you and control you like a toddler.”

When you say “You need to make wise choices and think about yourself,”

I hear “You are foolish and have never done anything right - and never will.”

When you say “This is disordered and not in proper time,”

I hear “We know better than you because we have God-like cosmic powers.”

When you say “I will only listen if you talk reason,”

I hear “I will terminate our relationship based on how I perceive your intentions.”

When you say “Don’t think of bringing him around here for Christmas,”

I hear “I will actively hunt you both down and shoot him on sight.”

When you say “Be prepared to run,”

I hear “This can only end as the worst-case scenario.”

When you say “I will not be manipulated,”

I hear “You are inherently evil and trying to dupe me, you snake.”

When you say “I wish you didn’t feel that way,”

I hear “This is your fault and you are causing problems.”

When you say “I don’t support this relationship,”

I hear “It’s me or him… and you won’t be my daughter anymore if you choose him. I don’t love you.”