Chapter 21 - BEN AND KAREN
Ben and Karen did not become close immediately.
Money had exposed childhood wounds.
Karen:
“Dad trusted you more.”
Ben:
“Mom rescued you more.”
Karen:
“You had Sarah.”
Ben:
“You had Mom.”
Neither statement solved anything.
Family therapy helped them stop translating affection into accounting.
Ben apologized again for the trash can.
Karen said:
“I deserved your anger.”
He answered:
“Not an object thrown at you.”
Good.
Karen apologized for Ella.
Not once.
Repeated through behavior.
No insults.
No comparisons.
No using Tyler’s needs to diminish Ella.
At holiday dinner, Ella won a school science prize.
Karen said:
“Congratulations.”
Then looked at Tyler.
Did not check whether he was okay.
Progress.
Tyler said:
“Why are you looking weird?”
Karen laughed.
“Old habit.”
He rolled his eyes.
Normal.
When Ben received a promotion, Karen did not spiral.
When Karen bought her townhouse, Ben did not calculate whether she got help.
They became siblings instead of branch representatives.
May you like
Not best friends.
Enough.
