Thanks to my mother
she taught me to react first
without getting the full story
taught me that only one person's opinion matters
she taught me to rage first
ask questions after
she demonstrated, carefully,
how exactly to be a narcissist, and how to be good at it
same with how to lie and fake
she showed me how to drill people with endless unanswerable questions
and how to give cruel punishments when the answer wanted
was not given
She taught me to punish, not discipline, and yes, there is a difference
I learned how to show one face in the public eye
and don a different mask in private
she waved her baton of anger and hatred
all the while teaching me to bully people to get what I want
She taught what not to do
she taught by example
she demonstrated through actions
and thanks to my mother
I have to reteach myself
the things I should have learned instead