I don’t know why, but for so long, I’ve believed
That parents should think the world of their kids
Love them unconditionally
And protect them from harm
Make them feel safe and build them up
I guess I was wrong
Because my parents are far from this
They slander and gossip
They judge and they disrespect
They think the word of themselves
And think nothing of me, or my siblings
They blame us for every event
Never seeing the others involved
Just like they don’t see
Anything that we go through
They don’t see the pressure and stress
That we place on our selves
Trying to live up to
Their expectation of perfection
The expectations they mask with deception
Their words coated in false kindness
They mask the truth with lies
And they say that it's fine, to fail
But treat you like failing isn’t an option
They hem and they haw
But they don't ever help
Quick to anger and slow to love
They shout and they yell
And you don't dare oppose
Their beliefs
Instead you sit by, silent
Waiting for the day you can get away