Journey To A Fresh Start

I was born on Ogunlana drive in Surulere, Lagos Nigeria. Ogunlana Dr was a time in my life I see as my years of innocence. I have 3 vivid memories of life on Ogunlana Drive. One was having intense tummy aches and ulcer pangs and being taken to hospital; another was seeing a huge rat in the guest toilet - yes yuk, the third was a baby carriage seat being placed on a table and be wondering why that was as at that age I felt it was not safe. The most important and vivid memory though was hanging out with the neighbors son - I forget his name but his dads name was Uncle Wole of Animal games. A memory seared in my mind is one of us sitting facing the street, watching cars go by. I don't remember playing with my brothers but I remember visiting uncle Wole's son. He was much older than me but weirdly his friendship or maybe it was more big brotherly guardianship gave me comfort. We moved from Ogunlana Dr when I was five

  [2/7, 4:40 PM] Tiffany Coffey: I think my mom is narcissistic [2/7, 5:38 PM] Banké Balogun: Hahahaha! Omg! I was wondering the same thing about my mom this weekend 😳🤦🏽‍♀️ More I thought about it though my mom was just a victim of a very abusive overbearing father. What she did not have she is unable to give. My mom and dad combo did create an environment that set me up to be a caretaker. I was the only girl amongst 3 brothers, 1 male cousin and 2 uncles. I felt alone and isolated most of the time. My culture raised girls to serve men, cook and clean while my brothers...didnt do much but waited to be served their meals from what I remember 😅. I just remember my childhood to be me listening to my mom always in her feelings about not being happy with my dad, she also has a tendency to be very critical and invalidating by nature.  She cares too much what others think so she would never hear me out when anyone reported me to her but would give her ears to outsiders then turn around