• theangryseal@lemmy.world
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    18 hours ago

    Unfortunately, this.

    I have talked to the children in my family over the last 20 years.

    My first cousin who is half my age… I told her to question everything! She replied, “that’s right. Question everything but mommy, daddy, and god.” I said, “No. I literally mean everything. Mommy, daddy, god, and everything else.”

    I really thought I got somewhere with her. She’s 18 now. I got nowhere. I could be wrong. I’m going to try to spend time with her soon now that she’s an adult.

    My younger 1st cousins once removed, I said similar things. Two are preachers (despite their dad getting caught with a man and coming out of the closet, destroyIng a 20+ year marriage), one joined the army despite everything I said, and another is attending America’s last snake handling church.

    I don’t think I’ve moved any of them.

    I planted seeds though. But when everyone around them is planting weeds, the decent plants can’t compete.

    Breaks my goddamn heart.

    I have reached kids outside of my family, but way way way way less than I haven’t.

    Still. It’s worth it to try.