I just found this attachment in an email inviting friends and family. It is documented record of what was real.
The images, taken at a third birthday, reflect a child who was deeply loved, supported (this is still true today), & yet back then surrounded by a family that was very actively present in her life.
In family psychology, alienation refers to a process in which a child is guided—intentionally or unintentionally (yet, very intentionally in this case) —away from a loving parent or the parent's family, while estrangement is the resulting separation, where that distance comes to feel normal despite being shaped by incomplete or one-sided information (or in this case, blatant, mind and heart shaping, outright lies). Living without truth isn’t peace—it’s confusion with a time delay.
When such disruption occurs around the age of eight, it can significantly influence identity formation, trust patterns, and one’s internal sense of reality, often without conscious awareness. <----- ***
Early attachment, however, does not disappear; it remains stored in the body and nervous system, often resurfacing later as questions, inconsistencies, or a sense that something is unresolved- (to put it mildly).
Upon reaching adulthood, individuals in these circumstances gain the legal and developmental capacity to do their due diligence and seek information independently and to evaluate their own history from a broader perspective.
This stage often marks a critical opportunity to move beyond a single narrative, to ask direct questions, and to consult licensed therapists, elders in the church or qualified professionals outside of the immediate household environment where alienation incubated.
Reconnection, when pursued, is not inherently about loyalty or disloyalty, but about access—access to personal history, relational context, and a more complete understanding of one’s life.
Research and clinical experience indicate that prolonged estrangement rooted in early alienation can contribute to confusion, emotional fragmentation, and difficulty forming secure relationships if left unexamined.
Conversely, a willingness to engage with truth, even when uncomfortable, is consistently associated with greater psychological integration, resilience, and long-term clarity plus many more positive, awe-inspiring attributes in life. You can outwait a lie—but you can’t outlast the truth in your own blood.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9
I’m still here—because truth has a way of finding its way home. Love ❤️ ~ Auntie DDé
~ Saturday, April 11th, 2026~
