I read your book “Bad childhood good life” years ago, and it brought me to tears reading about your relationship with your mother. I too grew up without a nurturing protective loving mother and your book was so validating to me. My mother always put the men in her life before her own children (She divorced our dad and remarried) and it caused me and my siblings to turn to alcohol, drugs and promiscuity at a very young age. Today I am sober, 12 years, and living my best life despite my crappy childhood. My mother still to this very day has taken zero responsibility for allowing the men in her life to sexually assault me and my siblings, and it used to cause me great anguish. But when I gave up the drugs and alcohol, I also cut her out of my life, and it allowed me to flourish into somebody I am very proud of. I could have stayed in the victim mentality, like my 2 sisters chose to do, but I didn’t. Although it was the hardest and most painful thing I have ever done, it was also the bravest, healthiest, and most necessary. I’ve heard you often say we are the architects of our own lives. We can chose to evolve into something that contributes to the betterment of society, or we can remain stagnant, and adopt a victimhood mentality, which only ads to the downfall of society….never knowing what our gifts to offer the world could have been. Thank you so much for your very sound sage advice helping so many people day after day. Many cultures revere the elder woman for their great wisdom and healing gifts she offers to younger generations. Only in the western world are elder women disrespected underappreciated and ignored, except for very special women like you. I love your “no nonsense, blunt, slap in the face” approach, because it’s what people need today in this crazy “overly triggered, victimhood, lazy” society we live in. I’m so glad you never plan on retiring Dr. Laura because the world needs you more now than ever, and I will always be grateful for how you’ve helped me become who and what I am, as a result of the choices I MADE to cut ties with my toxic mother. No more drama during holidays, no more hiding who I am, no more numbing my painful past. I am finally free, aware, and thriving… not just surviving. I hope more people read that book and develop the courage to be the architect of their own lives too. It’s so taboo to cut off your own mother and you will be met with many ignorant advice like “well she’s your mother, she gave you life, you must forgive her” blah blah blah. Mothers are glorified and untouchable it seems, but as you have often said before, mama bears and other animals will give their life to protect their young. Unfortunately, in some human species, the mama bear gene is missing. Therefore, they lose their mom and grandma card. The only one who should feel guilt is the faulty mother, not the child who flees for her safety and security to live a GOOD LIFE.