The fact that she still brought him a car, still tried to get his approval, after a lifetime of being ignored and dismissed, says a lot about how deeply children crave validation from their parents. And the moment she realized no gesture, no gift, no achievement would ever change his perception—she took her power back. You can literally feel her evolution in real time.
She left with grace, not bitterness. And in that silence, she said more about her strength than words ever could.
this story isn’t just about one dinner. it’s about a lifetime of being unseen
coming from someone who just cut off contact with their entire family... this was exactly what i needed to hear today. thank you for sharing your journey
I used to think I was crazy for feeling like the outsider in my own home. This just made it all make sense
That speech at the end was wild. The man really toasted his kids and called one a loser like he was giving a motivational quote. If you ever needed proof that success means nothing to some parents unless it serves their ego, this is it. The emotional violence in that scene is worse than yelling—he did it all with a smile. That’s the scariest kind of cruelty. Calculated. Measured. Public.
Eliza’s moment of standing up to her father hit me like a freight train. That quiet strength, placing the DNA test on the table—it was like watching someone break free from a lifetime of chains. I felt every second of her pain, having grown up with a parent who never saw my worth either. Last year, I finally told my mom I was done chasing her approval, and it was terrifying but freeing, just like Eliza’s exit with that Mercedes. This story reminds us we don’t need others’ validation to shine. Beautifully told, raw, and real. Thank you for sharing such a powerful journey.
The moment Eliza described her father calling her a “loser” at the family table hit me so hard. That kind of cruelty, especially from someone who’s supposed to love you unconditionally, is unforgivable. 💔 Yet, instead of breaking her, it became the catalyst for her to reclaim her life and finally walk away from that toxic environment.
This hit me harder than I expected. As someone who's also spent years chasing a parent's approval through career milestones, I felt every word. The moment Eliza realized her accomplishments were never truly seen that was painfully real. Thank you for sharing such a powerful and healing story.
I spent so long trying to heal that it became another form of pain — every night with candles, journals, visualizations, hoping for a sign, but all I got was silence, until one night I saw a comment that said “Depths of Manifestation is for people DONE with the fluff and ready for the real shift,” and I don’t know why but that line got to me — I read it, and it didn’t comfort me, it challenged me — and that’s what changed me, because after I applied what it said, life started moving in ways I hadn’t seen in years, and it finally made sense why nothing else worked.
this hit deep for me. I once spent years chasing approval from my father who never showed up emotionally. no matter what I achieved, it was never "enough." thank you for sharing this—it reminded me that I don’t need his validation to be proud of who I am.
Wow, I just finished watching this and my heart sank! 😔 Hearing your dad slam you as “the loser” in front of everyone was brutal—but the way you walked away with your head held high shows true strength. You proved that your worth isn’t defined by anyone’s approval. Thank you for sharing your courage and reminding us all to honor our self-respect!
What a powerful story... I cried reading this. No child should ever have to buy love from a parent. The strength it took to stand up and walk out, reclaiming the car, her dignity, everything—that was inspiring beyond words.
🌹❤🌹i stood up to my dad at 17 - they (and our church's bishop) locked me in an institution for over 2 months... i still haven't recovered and i am 63.. they had to get married - dad never believed i was his and a lifetime of that belief meant i was never good enough - while the golden son was perfect. this story sounds exactly like my dad while I was growing up... 🌹❤🌹
respect to her for not screaming or crying... just calmly dropping the envelope like a mic and walking away 👏
"It takes real courage to walk away from a room that refuses to see your worth. The fact that you didn’t fight for his approval—but chose peace instead—shows strength that speaks louder than any insult ever could."
Good for you! I had a similar experience with my family. However no one stood up for me. My parents weren't parents to me I never fit in. Even my grandmother on my "moms" side called me derogatory names, even when I did nothing wrong. I was just a child but she called me "the little witch" in polish. I was 4 years old. The horrible conditions and attitudes lasted my entire life! No birthdays, no school attendences for the plays or awards I received or any goals were ignored and never attended. Thank goodness you found out while you were younger. The only one who ever helped or supported me was my mom's younger sister, Chris. Chris was gay but she was kind to me as well as a great aunt on mom's side who showed me love. My mother who I never understood me or gave me any motherly advice. I had 3 brother who were given the world, while I wore hand-me downs and homemade clothing that fit me badly and was made fun of at school. No pictures of me as a child, no one went to my graduations even though I did it all on my own. I moved out of state as soon as I was able. For over 20 years I had no contact with anyone. I aways knew something was wrong. I looked like the family but didn't belong. It wasn't until I was 62 years old and all the parents and aunts have passed away did I find out the truth. My oldest cousin finally told me the truth when I finally went on a visit "home". It turned out that while my aunt Chriss was home for the summer from college (she and I were the only college educated people in our family). She was volunteering at an inner city teen summer program. It turns out she was raped that summer and I was the product of that horrible incident. My aunt and uncle adopted me from the hospital. My grandmother worked for a husband wife doctor team and they doctored the birth certificate to show that my aunt and uncle were my actual parents. My "mom even threw away her wedding dress telling me " you will never wear mybdress". She trucked it down to the trash can while making this comment while I cried on the porch. It was then that I knew I had to go. I never asked either of them for anything. They were not invited to my wedding. They never tried. Until I had children. I kept them at arms length and when I moved out of state after my divorce there was no compassion or care. Now that I know it explains so much. They all took the secret to the grave. But I have built and had a great life. While thiee sons all failed at every turn, did drugs, dealt drugs went to prison! I on the other hand I have had a great life, I have 4 degrees all hard earned, I've traveled the world and helped countless others in the process. The best life whether you know the reasons for being outcast by family is the best way to show you are worthy and will be great! Just keep moving forward. I was not
A sincere Hats Off to you for your courage to shatter the invisible but nasty toxicity of parents or parent. Such parents has to have a Golden child to put down the bright child for their own insecurity. I know how hard it would’ve been for you. Enjoy and nurture to sustain this. Should be Proud of your self 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 From India, living in Canada!!!
Your story hit harder than I expected! I was also a middle child, but of 5. My father couldn't accept me because I asked too many questions and was not willing to follow each of his requirements. He treated me like he hated me, then left me out of his will. It made me stronger than I could ever realize. But I accept that this was my path. Thank you for the unexpected reminder!
@TwistedRevengeUS