Meet the Gaslight Family (creative writing)

[LovebirdsFlying]

Meet the Gaslight Family

Daughter: Oh, Mom, I need to tell you something. It's about ABC.
Mama Gaslight: What? I didn't hear you. You said XYZ?
Daughter: No. I said ABC.
Mama Gaslight: I don't have time to deal with XYZ right now.
Daughter: But I didn't say XYZ. I said ABC.
Mama Gaslight: I just told you, I don't have time for XYZ!
Daughter: It's not about XYZ, it's about ABC!

Enter Papa Gaslight.
Papa Gaslight: You watch your tone, young lady! What's she going on about now?
Mama Gaslight: She's harping on XYZ, and I already told her I don't have time right now.
Papa Gaslight: You heard her. Not another word about XYZ.
Daughter: But I'm trying to say ABC--
Papa Gaslight: I said not another word! We're going to have to call your shrink and talk about your obsession with XYZ. You must need your meds adjusted or something.

During the session,
Therapist: We need to tell you something. It's about ABC.
Mama Gaslight: ABC? Is that all? Why didn't she tell us?
Papa Gaslight: All that fuss she raised, when just saying ABC would have been simple? She really needs to learn to communicate better!

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

Another episode in the Gaslight family:

How familiar is this scenario?

Mary does something well. Let's say she's really struggled with a character flaw, or she's been working on breaking a bad habit, or she figures out some difficult bit of insight that nobody would just tell her. She shows signs of success, whereupon she hears:

"Oh, you *finally* got that worked out? Well, hallelujah! At last!"
"It's about time you did something right for a change."
"Will wonders never cease? I never thought I'd see the day!"
"Somebody start praying. It must be the end of the world."
"What took you so long?"

This hurts Mary, and she says so. Feedback is then:

"What are you talking about? That was a compliment!"
"Oh, you ARE oversensitive."
"That's the last time I give you positive feedback."
"From now on, I just won't even say anything."
"Try to tell her something nice, and she still complains."

I, of course, was in Mary's position for SO long. I think the first 42 years of my life were pretty much made of gaslighting.