That differentiation happened for me when I was a toddler. It’s why she set me up. Knowing that is actually what saved me. She ruined all her kids trying to sacrifice me, too.

But here’s the crazy part. I absently had it on my mind Mommy Dearest came out when I was in 5th grade. That was the watershed moment, you know? Whole family gathered, must see tv style. I remember the wire hanger scene and her cutting her eyes at me…and me glaring defiantly back. That was the everything changed moment. Because I knew that she was crazy… but then I knew there were not only Other crazy mothers like her, but that the whole world knew SHE was wrong. & She knew it, too.

I just saw it came out in 1981. My fn bday wkd lol. I was fn 6 years old. But now I get why I never developed a taste for sports. & why I willed myself tall so young, too. I had to be tall to be safe. There. I was her size by 4th grade, entered 5th ¼” taller lol.