Chapter 23 - LEO LEARNS ABOUT GRANDMA

At eight, Leo asked:
“Why don’t I have Grandma Evelyn?”
He knew she existed.
Children search names.
Family photographs.
We prepared with his therapist.
“Grandma Evelyn hurt you when you were a baby.”
“How?”
“She gave permission for medicine that wasn’t safe and delayed getting you help when you were sick.”
“Why?”
“She wanted adults to believe I couldn’t take care of you.”
“Why?”
“Money and control.”
He frowned.
“Did she hate me?”
“No evidence of that.”
“Then why hurt me?”
I answered:
“Loving someone does not automatically make every choice safe.”
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He hated that answer.
Years later he understood it.