15 Comments
Oct 26, 2021Liked by Melissa Radke

I think the show did an excellent job at depicting being in abuse and not seeing it. Even when you see it clearly everywhere else. It also shows how your inner circle doesn’t see it or support it for various reasons. Sometimes as the abused you protect your family from the truth - out of shame or even just to spare them from your burden. You have no “help”. No one to save you. Saving yourself is so overwhelming especially when you’ve been conditioned to think that the abuse is all you deserve.

I have been loved and loved well by my family. And I still subjected myself to abuse for 18 years. Subjected my children. When I left I felt like I could breathe for the first time in my life. I was completely unaware that I was suffocating all those years. And I was lucky that I had created a path where I could financially support myself and my kids. I didn’t have that extra layer of challenge navigating the system.

But I still paid a huge price staying all those years. I’m dealing with PTSD. Teens with PTSD. Life is hard. It happens so quick. When you look back and realize how much you wasted allowing yourself to become broken and your kids broken it’s very hard to look forward with hope.

Three years out and I still feel I spend every day surviving. And I saw very little physical violence, thankfully. But every day is a struggle for me or the kids. We don’t trust. We have anger. We feel hopeless at times. We turn on each other. We blame. We crumble. We make mistakes. But, we are together. We also love. We have joy. We laugh. And we can breathe.

I hope one day my kids understand and forgive me. I hope one day I can forgive myself.

I never understood or appreciated the word triggered until I watched this. Sending love to all of those who wonder if they are being abused and questioning if they just expect too much. You don’t. You deserve love and kindness. You deserve to breathe.

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Sometimes painful to watch but it also made me stop and count my blessings.

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Oct 23, 2021Liked by Melissa Radke

To be honest I wanted to watch it because everyone is talking about it. I made it through the first few minutes and when she walked through the smashed up trailer with her baby and stepped on broken glass it was like I was remembering myself. I couldn't go down that path again. I don't want to even think about it. It's like reliving it and nightmares all over again. I got out Dec 10, 1996 with my 2 babies. I was on welfare and I actually cleaned houses and took my babies too, to make ends meet. It was awful

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Oct 24, 2021Liked by Melissa Radke

I loved the show! There were a few times I had to just stop and breathe. When she returned and the depression hit, I cried. It was a huge trigger for me and all I could do was process my emotions right along with her. People dont understand trauma bonding and just assume that "we" deserve what we get because we returned. Great show and explanation of things some will never understand.

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Oct 23, 2021Liked by Melissa Radke

Absolutely heart breaking and riveting at the same time.

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Oct 22, 2021Liked by Melissa Radke

I watched it and it was painful. I’ve been through some of the same stuff but never homeless, thank God! I am also a maid so I get it. I was married twice to abusive alcoholics, but have always been a hard worker and very ambitious. It’s a hard life

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Oct 22, 2021Liked by Melissa Radke

Love your reviews!!

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Oct 22, 2021Liked by Melissa Radke

I have never seen that quote before. That is ridiculously powerful. I want to hang it in my office.

I have to be honest. I started Maid a couple weeks ago and turned it off in the first episode because it stressed me out so badly! I wasn't in a good spot mentally or emotionally to watch it. I've also experienced the stupidity of our system like she did in the first few minutes.

Thanks for reminding me to finish the series!

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Oct 22, 2021Liked by Melissa Radke

Love your write up’s

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Oct 22, 2021Liked by Melissa Radke

I saw that movie. And it’s hard to watch as someone from an abusive home. Yet, it depicts the perfect images of what life is like when your a kid of abuse.

My big eye opener was seeing “the hate you give!” WOW… like serious WOW!! I’m not even close to being black. But in the last two years of research and trying to really understand why and how racism exist. I’ve learned so much. I’ve put my ignorance out into the world and asked it to teach me. And it surely has.

Like the show “atypical” PERFECT depiction of what it’s like to be autistic!! I mean wow!! As an autistic person I can say they hit the nail on the head!!

But becoming educated. Becoming cultured. Learning what it’s like to live like the movie “MAID”. Seeing good acting and good production of good writers!! Understanding different peoples lives. There culture. There fears, likes, dislikes, loves, and what makes them TICK!! It’s all educational in the end.

Never walk away from a tv show or a movie and say “well it’s just a movie” or “that’s yet tv”. It’s not! It’s real! It’s what people every day struggle with!!

Thank you Melissa for opening peoples eyes to the reality of the world. Making real things REAL!! I mean we are all different. If we were alike the world would be boring!!

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Oct 22, 2021Liked by Melissa Radke

I saw that movie. And it’s hard to watch as someone from an abusive home. Yet, it depicts the perfect images of what life is like when your a kid of abuse.

My big eye opener was seeing “the hate you give!” WOW… like serious WOW!! I’m not even close to being black. But in the last two years of research and trying to really understand why and how racism exist. I’ve learned so much. I’ve put my ignorance out into the world and asked it to teach me. And it surely has.

Like the show “atypical” PERFECT depiction of what it’s like to be autistic!! I mean wow!! As an autistic person I can say they hit the nail on the head!!

But becoming educated. Becoming cultured. Learning what it’s like to live like the movie “MAID”. Seeing good acting and good production of good writers!! Understanding different peoples lives. There culture. There fears, likes, dislikes, loves, and what makes them TICK!! It’s all educational in the end.

Never walk away from a tv show or a movie and say “well it’s just a movie” or “that’s yet tv”. It’s not! It’s real! It’s what people every day struggle with!!

Thank you Melissa for opening peoples eyes to the reality of the world. Making real things REAL!! I mean we are all different. If we were alike the world would be boring!!

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Oct 22, 2021Liked by Melissa Radke

I watched this immediately when it was released, such a powerful show that highlights emotional and financial abuse and a system that is supposed to serve and yet is so broken. I have worked for 22 years with survivors of domestic violence in Oregon and would suggest that anyone moved by this show connects with a local provider of services to see how you can help. Even something that seems small (in this grand scale of wanting to fix all of the laws and bureaucratic governmental issues that create barriers), like bringing in diapers, or school donations, or volunteering to sort donations, or answer the hotline to provide emotional support, are life saving. They are ways that we show survivors that we believe them, that they are NOT alone, and that they are deserving of safety and peace for themselves and their children. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and likely your local programs have events to attend, purple ribbons to wear, and information and education to share.

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Oct 22, 2021Liked by Melissa Radke

I just finished MAID because you have mentioned it several times to the family. So, so glad I did. You're right, it was awesome. It was thought provoking. It reminded me of how truly blessed my life is despite the little things I complain about. Thanks for telling me about MAID.

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I finished this yesterday! Such a great story!

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