I remember when I was a little girl,

My mother was amazing.

She was so pretty, and so smart, and she did everything to take care of me and my 3 younger siblings.

Our life wasn't easy by any means, but I remember a lot of happiness.

Don't get me wrong.... My mom was scary too.

I was the oldest.

A child she didn't want, and tried to abort.

But she expected a lot from me, and I worked hard to make her happy.

She wished I was more into horses and less into dolls. 

But I tried to do both.

I loved frilly dresses and pink bows, and climbing trees and sneakers.

And at some point in my life, somewhere around 11, my mom became my best friend. 

We watched "Dawson's Creek" together every Wednesday night.

She bought me all of the Animorphs books, and we took turns reading the series. 

And I kept the house cleaned, cooked dinner, and took care of the kids.

When I was an older teen, her husband at the time was abusive. And she wanted to leave him.

But she took a long time to do it.

She wanted to do it on her terms and I didn't know why.

All I knew was he was hurting me the most, and I was breaking.

She told me once that no one would make her give up her horses again, and I realized that's why it was taking her so dam long to leave him. She didn't want to give up her horses.

One day I couldn't take it anymore and I left home. 

16 and I left and moved back to California, from Arkansas.

And I made my life here.

But through all of it, I never hated my mom. 

I thought she would be happy I at least saved myself.

I thought at some point she would realize that I could have turned to drugs, booze, or whoring, but didn't. And would have been proud of me.

She never was.

I did get mad and hurt when years went by and I realized when I was being used by her, or had been lied to by her. When I realized she left my dad, who was a great man, to marry an abuser. 

But I still didn't hate her.

I was hurt when she got married again and didn't even tell me or send me pictures and I found out months after the fact from a family friend.

But I didn't hate her.

Despite everything I listened to my Mother in Law and had my mom with me when my son was born.

She held my hand and encouraged me to push when I wanted to give up.

And she was the second person to hold Caden, right after Seth.

And after he was born and she went home and we got into our routine of going months at a time without talking, and I heard she was telling people that Seth beat me and hated Caden, I was angry and I didn't understand.

But I still didn't hate her.

And 3 years ago when Seth and I split up and I went to stay with her for a few months, and all she wanted me to do was file for divorce and take away his custody of Caden, and she screamed at me when we got back together, and she accused us of stealing from her and kicked us out while giving us the number to a homeless shelter...I was SO mad. And SO hurt. 

But I still didn't hate her.

I knew I just didn't understand her.

And when I called her 2 years ago,

and I was crying and I told her I had cancer cells growing in my ovaries. 

And I told her I was scared.

And she told me I could only get that from a cheating husband...

I wanted to smack her for being so cruel and stupid.

But I loved my mom.

And over the last 2 years,

When she has refused to talk to me.

Won't talk to her only grandchild,

Wouldn't even make the effort to come see Caden and I when I was an hour from her.

Doesn't even want a copy of his school photo.

Won't answer phone calls, voice mails, texts or emails.....

Now I am starting to hate her.

And I think back to when I was 16 and on my own and I realize she was my mom.

She should have done everything to at least  let me know she loved me.

But she hasn't done that at all in the last 9 years. 

Not once.

She doesn't text me on my birthday, send me anniversary cards, call to talk to Caden.

Nothing.

She is my mom.

And it's ingrained in me to love her.

But I am starting to hate her.

I know I'm better off.

It doesn't make this hurt any less.

I hope her stupid poodles bring her everything that she is losing out on.

Ya know.... For a girl who grew up without a daddy,

It's odd to realize that I have Mommy issues.