Page 13 - eBook Living Water 2

1946: Walt, 7 Me, 3

Many years later mom told me that because Walter had been a
difficult baby and child, she was concerned that if she disciplined
him, he would become more rebellious than he already was. Dad
told me that he would have been stricter with Walter but that it was a
point of contention between him and mom and he didn’t want to
“create more waves”. Mom and Dad argued a lot. He spent many
hours working and was active in various civic and political groups. It
seems like this was his way of avoiding the problems at home.
Speaking with Walt years later, he told me that the reason he treated
me poorly was because it was a way he could vent his frustrations he
had with mom and dad.

I was growing up as a very hurt and angry little girl, believing
Mom and Dad didn’t care because they allowed Walt’s aggressive
behavior to continue without consequences. I kept most of those
feelings buried inside. I do remember one incident in kindergarten
where I pulled the chair out from under the teacher because she forgot
that it was my turn to hold the flag during the pledge of allegiance;
another painful episode of not being acknowledged. I ended up in the
principal’s office and the repercussions from it were enough to nip
that kind of public display in the bud.