#'cuz mommy and daddy didn't show you attention growing up'

[philsmeatylegss]

Me: I like to spread awareness about glass children, aka siblings of disabled, chronically ill, or displays consistent behavior that causes parents to give a disproportionate amount of attention to the non disabled sibling compared to the disabled. Depending on the disorder, young children who are glass children take on both physical and emotional responsibilities reserved for adults. And the problem becomes a million times worse if one or both parents are mentally ill. Glass children have a hard time when feeling unheard as that was a constant throughout our childhood; our needs and wants were never prioritized. It can lead to pretty severe mental health issues, the most prominent being very low self esteem and feeling your worth is entirely dependent on what others think. You fail to develop a personality. Usually pretty severe anxiety will occur. Because of the treatment, as adults, a glass child probably needs as much attention as their sibling got as kids. It is a topic I don't see discussed a lot because everyone tends to forget the non-disabled sibling when seeing a disabled child. And we often are forced to not voice any grievances out of fear of being called ungrateful or a brat. It can really mess someone up and is something that needs to be talked about more.

The fucking internet:

Me: I didn't even say that...?

[lezbi0nic]

Hating your disabled sibling cuz mommy and daddy didn't show you enough attention growing up is super cringe btw. Hope this helps!

[katedrakeohd]

#41daysofcheerchallenge

A Very Valtorian Christmas

[Masterlist]

Part One: Who's your Daddy?

On the evening of December 23rd the stony lakeside manor in Valtoria is lit from within by a warm golden glow. A fresh layer of snow covers the ground and surrounding trees like sparkling fairy dust. Curling columns of grey smoke rise into the cold, frosty air from the brick chimneys. For the first time in a decade the manor houses a small, but growing, family within its walls. Rooms that were once reserved for the grandest of noble events have been repurposed to reflect a more casual way of living. A rarely used banquet hall has been converted to become the Walker family's great room. The room’s tall western facing windows frame an equally tall Christmas tree. Across the room a hearty fire licks at the logs in the stone fireplace. In the space between hearth and towering tree, a cluster of comfortable sofas and cozy arm chairs frame an oversized soft rug.

Drake Walker settles back against the cushions of the sofa with a contented sigh. “I’ve never wrapped so many presents in my life.”

Next to him his wife Kate arranges a soft and fluffy throw blanket around herself and her swollen belly. She's six months pregnant with their first child. Kate rubs her belly gently and smiles, “Hey now, we helped too.”

Drake chuckles softly and wraps his arm around her shoulders, drawing her closer to him. “Oh I wasn't complaining, I'm just not used to celebrating Christmas on such a grand scale.”

“But you grew up living in a Palace. Surely you played some part in the Royal family's festivities.”

Drake shakes his head, “Not really. Whatever the Royals had going on was more for show and photo opportunities. Family and festive didn't really have any kind of connection. Sure I saw the giant Christmas tree they had the servants put up, and Nicholas and I would exchange gifts privately but my family kept our celebrations to ourselves. My Dad always worked Christmas day so we'd do our family stuff together the day after.”

“So even as adults you didn't really get together with your Noble friends to do anything over the holidays?” Kate asks, a look of concern wrinkling her forehead.

“It doesn't snow in the Capital so the nobles would travel to Lythikos for the winter festival in December, but it wasn't really a Christmas thing and I didn't always go.”

Kate cuddles in closer to Drake, her baby belly pressing up against him. He shifts his position slightly so that he can place his hand on her belly and rubs it gently. They both smile when they feel the baby move. Kate places her hand over his, and leans in to kiss Drake on the cheek.

“Well this year I'm so happy things will be different. You're a Duke now and a Daddy to be. Our friends are coming to spend Christmas with us, so we have new traditions to make.”

Drake nods, “And old ones to include. Are you and Hana still going to bake cookies tomorrow?”

Kate smiles and giggles, “Yes, and don't worry we won't let Maxwell anywhere near your Mom's famous gingerbread recipe.”

He breathes a sigh of relief, “Oh thank God. One year he insisted on helping Savannah and I bake and it was a disaster.”

“I'm still trying to picture you in an apron baking cookies. The image in my head keeps getting replaced by one that's so sexy, and naked.”

Drake drops his head back and laughs, his hand covering his face. “Please tell me that's just the hormones talking. Because memories of baking my Mom's cookies with my sister are so not sexy.”

Drake's laughter stirs the two sleeping corgis on the rug. They both get up and approach the sofa, jumping up on Drake and Kate's legs, wiggling happily and whining for attention. Kate tries to shoo them away, but they won't settle down.

Drake sighs and sits up, trying to nudge Mr. Fluffers away with his shin. “Get down you two, this isn't play time.”

Kate giggles, drawing her legs up onto the sofa to escape Princess Gracie's licking of her ankles. “I think the fur babies need to go out.”

Drake sucks in a deep breath to call for Gladys, Valtoria's Major domo/Butler and then lets it back out again with a groan. He and Kate have given Gladys time off to visit her own family in the UK for Christmas.

Getting up from the sofa he bends down to ruffle both of the dogs heads.

“Ok fine, come on you two let's go outside.”

As he walks across the room with both wiggling, happy corgis trying to catch up, he shouts over his shoulder to Kate. “And you little Momma, stay put with those sexy thoughts of yours til I get back.”

Kate leans over to grab her mug of eggnog from the side table, giving Drake a wave and a wink as he goes. “Ok we'll stay right here.”

---

Drake pulls his winter hat down over his ears and wraps his scarf around his neck as the dogs dance happily around his feet. “So impatient you two. Hold your horses. I gotta put my stuff on. It's cold outside.”

As he pushes his arms into his winter jacket and shoves his feet down into his boots the dogs go skittering across the front hall to the door. Drake shuffles along after them, zipping his coat, “Ok, ok. I'm coming.”

When he pulls the heavy door open the dogs bolt outside like furry torpedoes out of a submarine. Drake shouts after them as he steps outside and closes the door. “Hey now, wait for Daddy!”

Drake laughs at himself, his warm breath swirling around his head like a cloud.

Daddy, it sounds so odd coming out of my mouth. Just a dog Daddy for now, but a baby Daddy in the spring? I can't wait to hold my son or daughter for the first time, it's terrifying and exciting at the same time. Me, a Dad? The thought never crossed my mind a year ago, but now here I am and I couldn't be happier.

Following the dog tracks in the snow he frowns, now where did they get off to? Mr. Fluffers and Princess Gracie. Seriously Kate did you have to give our pets such prissy names? To this day I refuse to call either of them Mr. or Princess anything.

Drake blows into his hands to warm them, and then shoves them into his pockets. Damn why did I forget my gloves?

Off to the right he can hear the sound of happy growls and snorts. There they are. Rolling around in the snow. At least somebody's getting some enjoyment out of this frosty night.

“Ok you two, wrap up the foolishness and get down to business. Cuz I have Mommy and a glass of spiked eggnog waiting for me inside to warm me back up.”

--

Part Two

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@jlpplays1-41daysofcheerchallenge