đź™… What it means to have grown up in a family with rigid roles and no tolerance for autonomy
Growing up in a family with rigid roles meant that basic needs like food, clothes, medical care, and education were often unmet while you were expected to fit into a predetermined box with no room for individual expression.
You may have learned to fend for yourself early, becoming a tiny adult who cooked meals you couldn't reach the stove for, signed your own school forms, and diagnosed your illnesses via library books. Your survival became your curriculum while other kids learned math. You learned to shrink your existence to fit what felt available, becoming incredibly self-reliant and resourceful—a tiny expert at making do with less.
You may have developed an almost supernatural ability to sense when your needs might be too much for others to handle. Now you hoard resources like food, money, or supplies—always afraid there won't be enough when you need it. When basic care is offered, your body tenses, waiting for the catch. You minimize your needs or feel guilty asking for help, as if they're a burden, and you're still surprised when people show up for you without expecting payment in return.