Woman who cut ties with her parents shares brutal Christmas card she received
Christmas is undoubtedly one of the most emotional times of year.
Family get-togethers can either heal old wounds, or alternatively, the festive season can make you feel lonelier than ever.
And for one TikTok star, the holidays have always proven difficult to endure, following her decision to cut off both of her toxic parents after hitting 'breaking point'.
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The social media star - who goes by the name Basil's Home - explained she initially went 'no contact' with her mother and father in 2021 on Boxing Day (26 December), and have since been living with her partner.
And, ahead of Christmas 2022, she revealed the brutal card she received from her estranged parents - and supposedly dog.
Addressed to the TikToker and her partner, the card has a 'nice little hedgehog' on the outside and a 'pretty little holiday message inside'.
The message starts off positively, reading: "Merry Christmas and a Happy 2023 from Mum, Dad and Toby".
Although, the TikToker sarcastically notes: "Really sweet of her to make sure Toby the dog signed it."
The message then takes on a whole different tone, leaving viewers of the TikTok both sympathetic and enraged.
"And then underneath it says, 'I hope you can live with yourselves'," the TikToker reads.
She respond to her parents' message: "I got two reactions to that. Number one, it's never really been easier to live with myself than after I stopped talking to them so, kudos to me.
"And, number two, she's really gone ahead and given me a gift here, of reminding me exactly who she is and reassuring me that yes, I did go ahead and make the exact right decision."
Viewers of the clip have since flooded to the post in support of the TikToker and her partner.
One said: "This message WAS NOT Toby approved. Also, I'm sorry."
"Card sent back 'Merry Christmas and new year! Best. Decision. Ever. Miss you Toby!'" another wrote.
While a third resolved: "Reseal it and return to sender!!!"
The brave TikToker revealed in a later TikTok that, despite speculation, it was not homophobia from her parents that sparked their decision to restrict contact with them.
"I don't want to dismiss the very real and very painful effect that a parent's homophobia has on a relationship with a child," they explained.
"But that's just not what happened here - my parents actually aren't homophobic."
She went on: "There were many different factors that led up to making that decision. It wasn't any one thing.
"I certainly hit a breaking point with my parents as a lot of folks in this position do, but it was a long road leading up to that moment.
"It's just absolutely wild when you get to a point and you make a decision that the pain of not having somebody in your life is better than the pain of having them in it."
Rhianna Benson