Kristel

“Those deemed “distorted”—usually husbands—were told to abandon their families to work on themselves. Alone. Jodi seemed to specialize in guiding wives to distance themselves from their husbands. Or kicking them out entirely. ConneXions language framed it as “inviting him to leave,” code for “I’m going to make you isolate yourself from everyone you know, except Jodi.” Shockingly, the husbands often went along with it, fully convinced that it was in the best interest of their families. It was like watching lemmings jump off a cliff.”
― Shari Franke, The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom

“The accusations took an even darker turn when Jodi twisted the happiness he felt in hugging his daughters into something sinister and perverse. She filled his mind with doubts and self-loathing, making him second-guess every interaction, every display of affection.”
― Shari Franke, The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom

“I understand the fickle nature of memory—how our minds can sometimes erase the most painful experiences, leaving behind a sanitized version of the past.”
― Shari Franke, The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom

“I ALWAYS ASK Stella and Nolan, “Do I seem like a stressed-out mom or a happy mom?” And they say, “You seem happy.”
― Molly Shannon, Hello, Molly!: A Memoir