I read this. It was compelling. Reminded me of @deirdyweirdy's stories about her own parents.

EXCEPT FOR YOUR BRILLIANCE, YOU ARE NOTHING LIKE THAT MOTHER!

Some parents can be truly awful, yet their kids forgive them and love them unconditionally

In your case, it seems to me, that it is the other way around. C's childhood was one of extreme neglect? Is that how C generally hands out compliments, by comparing you to terrible, minimally charming, mothers? I think I would have blocked her email. I am very angry about this!

They found their way to New York and tried to move in with the five kids who were trying to escape them.

I don't remember the book this way. Didn't the kids try to help them, but the parents refused? They preferred being homeless?

Have you read House Keeping? I just finished it. Similar story about transcience, and what it is, but we are privy to the child's thoughts. Very interesting! Hard to read, because the thinking is so, so so... Idk what it is. Not linear, like mine though. Deep! Insightful! Chimerical! I might read it again to get more in her head.

Happy New Year! I miss you in these parts! Maybe I'll write a freewrite to celebrate. They no longer come easy to me. It's depressing.