I want to start this with a really strong disclaimer: i know so many people are suddenly learning about what is going on in Palestine in spite of past ignorance/indoctrination and i think that is a WONDERFUL thing. My point of this post is not to share my mother for supporting a good cause after having a problematic view in the past. It’s just the context of her being a narcissistic parent that makes this hard to swallow

So i’ve been pro Palestine for years now, probably since I read my first book about it at 16 (I am 21 now). I have consistently spoken about the issue since then but much more so in the last few months due to recent events. My mum has always had a history of demeaning me for being invested in all kinds of different social causes: she’s argued with me about the books i buy, told me off for posting about them, just straight up started fights with me for being a “problem” or “shaming the family” and making her look bad.

Last month I went to a pro Palestine protest. I sent a video of it to my family group chat with my parents and my sister because we were talking about what we were up to that day. My mum replied two texts: “Sorry but I don’t believe this is a battle I should be on the front line for 🤷‍♂️” “I hope you can at least refrain from posting on social media. This could affect your future and I don’t believe anyone around you will stand up for you then”

This was obviously irritating because I wouldn’t be stupid enough post myself at a protest like that for safety reasons where I live. But what’s even more annoying is that this week I’ve been visiting my mum for the holidays and the entire time she’s suddenly been talking about Palestine. Going on about how awful it is and how everyone should know know about the cause. Again, i am in complete agreement with her and i know it is a fantastic thing to grow and change your mind. But it’s the fact that she’s acting like her previous comments never happened. Every time she talks about it, it feels like she’s virtue signalling and trying to show off about how caring she is. Meanwhile she’s only ever mocked me for caring so much about what’s happening. Idk it just feels so fake and makes me skin crawl, for her to use such a real problem as a means to make herself look better in front of others. I hope what i’m getting at comes across