Chapter 20 - I stopped using my parents as childcare
The biggest family change was practical.
Before the incident, Diane watched Eli about twice a month.
After school.
Saturday errands.
Occasionally an evening.
That ended.
Not forever by court order.
By my decision.
Diane said:
“You know I would never hurt him.”
“I believe you.”
“Then why?”
“Because you watched Lena target him and decided I was the problem for reacting.”
She cried.
“I made a mistake.”
“Yes.”
“How long do I pay?”
“This isn’t a sentence.”
“It feels like one.”
“I know.”
For eight months, my parents saw Eli only when I was present.
Then short outings with Diane alone after therapy and demonstrated boundaries.
Peter took longer.
Because Peter continued calling the perfume incident:
“stupid family drama”
for months.
I told him:
“You do not get unsupervised responsibility for Eli while you still describe what happened that way.”
He accused me of controlling him.
I answered:
May you like
“Yes. Access to my five-year-old is something I control.”
That was one form of control I was comfortable owning.
