Tag Archives: family dynamics

“You Can’t Count on Anything”: The Birthday Dinner I Never Forgot

Posted on July 17, 2026 by Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

On my twenty-fifth birthday, my father took me out to dinner, just the two of us. That had never happened before. He insisted I order the Oysters Rockefeller. I had never had them. They were incredible. I remember sitting there … Continue reading →

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The Rise of the Replacement Patriarch

Posted on January 15, 2025 by Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

Every dysfunctional family system seems to require a patriarchal figure to maintain its fragile balance. After my father’s death in late 2019, complex dynamics quickly created the opportunity for my youngest brother (YB) to step into that role, bypassing the … Continue reading →

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