October, while it's spooky szn, is also #domesticviolenceawareness month. Anyone that knows me knows my mother is an abuser. Not only to me, but her other 3 children (whether they understand it or not), her two ex-spouses, and her work/church environments. Financially manipulating people, verbally assaulting them, or using prison tactics on minors as punishment. Including, but not limited to, starvation, solitary confinement, standing for hours without moving, labor (beyond normal chores), or physical assault. She spent her time forcing one sibling to follow rigid diets their entire childhood and called me a cow whenever the feeling struck. She stole money from partners, myself, and more. Or lied for years that she had Multiple Sclerosis only to be "miraculously healed" when the attention or drugs stopped. She taunted me over my education, my ADHD, my empathy, and even the death of my friend. She played favorites and hatred so well each day—pitting siblings against each other for sport. And she brags about it all, pretending she was the world's best mother, that I'm the problem, and she tried so so hard. While all I truly felt was her beating me down until I was nothing left at all. If you're a survivor: you matter. You deserved better. You're important. If you're living this: you're not alone. There's a whole group of us out here. And you are loved. And to close, I always like to quote @gerardway with, "Mama, we're all full of lies." . . . . #ellecartier #bellinghamwa #bellinghamartist #indigenousphotographer #nativephotographer #createtoexplore #conceptartist #arttherapy #visualtherapy #visualstorytelling #conceptart #darkseason #depression #gad #anxietyproblems #anxietyart #childabusesurvivor #maternalabuse #mothersasabusers #domesticviolenceawareness #domesticviolence #survivingandthriving