Family Secrets The Sky Didn't Fall
Dec 19, 2024
Sacha Mardu, a talented cartoonist and memoirist known for her work 'Past Tense,' shares her journey of untangling family secrets. She reflects on her childhood marked by trauma and dysfunction, revealing how art and storytelling have served as powerful tools for healing. The conversation covers the complexities of family dynamics, including the emotional impact of generational trauma and the liberation found in confronting and sharing difficult narratives. Sacha’s insights shed light on the transformative power of therapy and personal connection.
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Gnarled Family Roots
- Sasha describes a childhood marked by her father's violence, parental partner-swapping, and poverty in northern England.
- She became a secret-keeper early, blanking out and retreating into books to survive.
Childhood Abuse Hidden As A Secret
- At age eight Sasha was shown pornography and then molested by her stepsister Gail, a secret she carried for decades.
- She had no language to tell anyone and only disclosed it in therapy in her 40s.
Discovery And Reunion With Gail
- Sasha learned in 1987 that her father had been arrested for abusing Gail and that Gail was in a children's home.
- Her mother urged Sasha to help and Sasha initially welcomed Gail into their home to support her.
