When my mother packed up our little pinto with 3 kids and clothes and sleeping stuff there was no room for toys. I remember trying to sneak it into the back of the car and she took it out and set it by the fence and said, "only things you NEED" i was so upset i cried until i threw up.
That's awful! I can't imagine her not having space for one tiny doll that could have fit into your pocket. You were a kid, what did she expect you to do with your time, just twiddle you thumbs? I hope she at least tried to make it up to you once things became stable.
But there were 2 other kids - chinarainwater's toys might've been small, but if she could bring something then the others would've wanted to bring something and it all adds up. For her mum she didn't have time to be thinking about toys - more like the was thinking how they can get away before the abuser comes home and what the hell shes' going to do with her 3 small kids and hoping no ones going to come after them.
Chinarainwater is telling us her story about why these possessions are so important to her but given the choice of keeping the dolls and staying at home or leaving the dolls and fleeing I'm pretty sure China would choose the fleeing option.
I too come froma home where there was domestic violence so I find your comments pretty blase. In these situatins quite often the mum feels really guilty anyway for taking the kids away from their home and their dad and worries if she's making the right choice (remember their self esteem is pretty much shattered - to me it's a no brainer, of course leaving an abuser is the right choice!) Your comment makes the mum seem like a bit of baddie - she was trying to get her kids away from the baddie.
