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Mother's House Payment
Mother traded a baby for a house, but cared little for either.
Mother's House Payment is the story of a little girl who was passed from one abuser to another until, after coping with isolation, neglect, and encounters with physical, sexual, and psychological violation, she snapped at the age of 13. She learns that her mother has passed on a genetic illness as a parting shot, and she must adjust to growing up with Bipolar Disorder.
As she approaches her 30th year, she works hard to pick up the loose threads of her life and tie them into a lifeline for her future. It is a tale of survival, endurance, and acceptance through understanding.
Mother's House Payment is the story of a little girl who was passed from one abuser to another until, after coping with isolation, neglect, and encounters with physical, sexual, and psychological violation, she snapped at the age of 13. She learns that her mother has passed on a genetic illness as a parting shot, and she must adjust to growing up with Bipolar Disorder.
As she approaches her 30th year, she works hard to pick up the loose threads of her life and tie them into a lifeline for her future. It is a tale of survival, endurance, and acceptance through understanding.
139 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2011
27 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Ronnie Schiller
6 books12 followersRonnie Schiller was born in Paducah, Kentucky and resides in the Pacific Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 11, 2015
THIS BOOK EVOKED EVERY EMOTION POSSIBLE
Reviewed By Phyllis Eisenstadt
To those of us who have had loving, nurturing parents and considered our homes as safe havens, it is inconceivable that child abuse does happen behind closed doors. This is the true story of one such person who was abused as a child and as an adult, and who never had the resources to avoid those horrendous events. In fact, she frequently felt that she deserved such treatment. The author takes us through a maelstrom of physical violence and sexual encounters that seem to be never-ending for her until she finally reaches a point when she seeks professional help in order to discover who she is and who she could be. The writing is excellent and the descriptions quite graphic. Upon finishing this memoir, the reader feels grateful for having had a normal childhood, something that should never be taken for granted.
Thank you, Ms. Schiller for baring your soul and sharing your life with us; that takes a special kind of courage.
Reviewed By Phyllis Eisenstadt
To those of us who have had loving, nurturing parents and considered our homes as safe havens, it is inconceivable that child abuse does happen behind closed doors. This is the true story of one such person who was abused as a child and as an adult, and who never had the resources to avoid those horrendous events. In fact, she frequently felt that she deserved such treatment. The author takes us through a maelstrom of physical violence and sexual encounters that seem to be never-ending for her until she finally reaches a point when she seeks professional help in order to discover who she is and who she could be. The writing is excellent and the descriptions quite graphic. Upon finishing this memoir, the reader feels grateful for having had a normal childhood, something that should never be taken for granted.
Thank you, Ms. Schiller for baring your soul and sharing your life with us; that takes a special kind of courage.
May 26, 2012
Wonderful book. An brutally honest look back. Schiller pulls no punches in letting the reader in. I highly recommend getting this.
May 28, 2012
Dark and intense and real
May 26, 2012
A must read from a great indie author.
June 29, 2014
A plain-spoken memoir that speaks to the horrors of child abuse.
People may find it shocking that one child inspires so much abuse from so many, but it is a common occurrence with the abused: a child learns how to behave by how their parents treat them, and in the case of an abused child the parents have taught the child to be a victim. Also, other adults, as well as other children, take their cues on how to treat a child by how the parent(s) treat them.
Think about it. Have you ever heard a parent make disparaging remarks about a small child? Even a child that does not react can still hear the contempt in their own parents’ voice and feel the hatred in their own parents’ treatment of them. It is not unusual for the chronically abused to have to sever all ties to their family of origin in order to live a good and stable life.
There was many a poignant line, in Mother's House Payment, but the one that resonated with me the most comes toward the bottom of page 75 (Kindle Location 1127):
I wonder if ten is too young to have lost one’s will to live.
Thank you Ronnie Schiller, for the courage to share your story.
People may find it shocking that one child inspires so much abuse from so many, but it is a common occurrence with the abused: a child learns how to behave by how their parents treat them, and in the case of an abused child the parents have taught the child to be a victim. Also, other adults, as well as other children, take their cues on how to treat a child by how the parent(s) treat them.
Think about it. Have you ever heard a parent make disparaging remarks about a small child? Even a child that does not react can still hear the contempt in their own parents’ voice and feel the hatred in their own parents’ treatment of them. It is not unusual for the chronically abused to have to sever all ties to their family of origin in order to live a good and stable life.
There was many a poignant line, in Mother's House Payment, but the one that resonated with me the most comes toward the bottom of page 75 (Kindle Location 1127):
I wonder if ten is too young to have lost one’s will to live.
Thank you Ronnie Schiller, for the courage to share your story.
October 23, 2012
I cried over this-sad tears, angry tears, and happy tears at the end. How a little girl could live through such a horror show and still be with us is a miracle. That she has risen above that hell to share her story with others is a blessing. Ronnie gives a detailed account of her life with an ever changing backdrop of step parents siblings, bi-polar disorder, depression, the trifecta of abuses, and her struggle to rise above it all and survive. The story is raw and personal-and you can't help but keep reading so that you can know that she makes it through. This book moved me so deeply and will stay with me for a long time. Fair warning-this is not a feel-good, happily ever after story, but it is a success story, a personal success story. I commend Ms. Schiller on her bravery and her tenacity.
January 22, 2013
Another reviewer called this book a lot of "disjointed rambling" - which I have to agree with. It was difficult to follow at times, and felt repetitive. The words didn't flow effortlessly, and I felt like some paragraphs repeated what the previous paragraph said. There were times I just wanted to stop reading it.
I don't want all that to take away from what a strong woman the author is, and how admirable it is that she survived all these horrible experiences.
I don't want all that to take away from what a strong woman the author is, and how admirable it is that she survived all these horrible experiences.
October 14, 2012
It's hard to believe someone could go through so much.
November 4, 2013
Inspiring story .. breaking the cycle of abuse .
May 18, 2015
Good story, ended too soon.
I enjoyed the height of Ronnie's story. But as I read, I realized abruptly after the last sentence that her story was over.
Ronnie, I am happy you have found you. And your happiness! Hopefully more people can see what I read on your final pages. Keep up the good work, and hopefully you continue to heal.
I was so intrigued by this story, as I was reading I never realized that the story ended so quickly for me.
You may find this story a pleasing read, as Ronnie Schuller moves past a horrible childhood to the great accomplishments of her adult life.
I enjoyed the height of Ronnie's story. But as I read, I realized abruptly after the last sentence that her story was over.
Ronnie, I am happy you have found you. And your happiness! Hopefully more people can see what I read on your final pages. Keep up the good work, and hopefully you continue to heal.
I was so intrigued by this story, as I was reading I never realized that the story ended so quickly for me.
You may find this story a pleasing read, as Ronnie Schuller moves past a horrible childhood to the great accomplishments of her adult life.
February 27, 2015
This is an excellent, well written story of survival in it's rawest form. I have no idea how the author managed to live to write this book. She faced some of the most horrific abuse and still went on. I gave it 4 stars only because I need to leave a warning for anyone reading this book. If you are prone to depression, might become prone to depression....run! Don't read this book! Otherwise, it's worth the read to understand how some others survive.
September 30, 2015
A bit disappointing
I started reading this book with a good amount of anticipation, but it was ill-placed. While writing the book must have been cathartic for the author, I found it to be disjointed and difficult to follow. I'm glad she found a good therapist who helped her discover peace and happiness. I hope it encourages others who suffer with bipolar depression and manic euphoria to keep searching for answers.
I started reading this book with a good amount of anticipation, but it was ill-placed. While writing the book must have been cathartic for the author, I found it to be disjointed and difficult to follow. I'm glad she found a good therapist who helped her discover peace and happiness. I hope it encourages others who suffer with bipolar depression and manic euphoria to keep searching for answers.
March 14, 2012
Not the best of books but I lived through it. The title captured my attention. The authors mother would only agree to have a baby with (for) her husband if he agreed to buy her a house. It really is a book about mental illness & child abuse. Not one tht I would recommend!
September 8, 2012
I thought this was an okay read but I was very disappointed in the ending. It just kind of dropped and didn't tie up the ending to my satisfaction. Amazon prime members can read this title for free and it can be bought for 99 cents. Don't waste your money. This is a kindle title only.
March 31, 2012
How can people do these things to one another?
April 1, 2012
Disorganized, full of typos, lackluster writing. Poor girl went through hell, and I commend her for surviving and getting healthy, but I never really connected with her.
April 22, 2012
A lot of disjointed rambling, really...just telling her story of crazy, usually by way of whom she was sleeping with at the brief moment...don't waste your time...
August 9, 2016
It is a memoir, and a sad one at best. It was pretty well written.
July 8, 2017
Thought it was pretty good.
June 10, 2012
Great insight into bi-polar disorder
November 27, 2012
Not too good.
July 14, 2018
This book was intense. Take a child and to every horrible thing you can think of to her, throw in a touch of bipolar and see why it was so hard for her to pull herself out.
If this book was fiction, I don't think I would have believed it. I do have a hard time wrapping my head around it, but I know there's an abundance of evil in this world and I can't doubt her story.
What really amazes me, though, is how she got to where she is today. Everything was stacked against her, and she was not only able to survive, but also to put together a very well written book. Very few people could accomplish just surviving.
This isn't for the faint of heart, and if I were a mother, I don't know if I could read about the abuses that a child had to endure. I'm glad I read it, and I hope Ronnie Schiller goes on to do many more great things.
If this book was fiction, I don't think I would have believed it. I do have a hard time wrapping my head around it, but I know there's an abundance of evil in this world and I can't doubt her story.
What really amazes me, though, is how she got to where she is today. Everything was stacked against her, and she was not only able to survive, but also to put together a very well written book. Very few people could accomplish just surviving.
This isn't for the faint of heart, and if I were a mother, I don't know if I could read about the abuses that a child had to endure. I'm glad I read it, and I hope Ronnie Schiller goes on to do many more great things.
November 19, 2015
this is a good story about how mental illness has an effect on one's life. I do wonder if her life would've turned out better if she had more love and help in the first place.
Ronnie had a lot going against her but she still fought to come out on top. I think that says more about her and her character then the mental illness ever did.
Ronnie had a lot going against her but she still fought to come out on top. I think that says more about her and her character then the mental illness ever did.
January 16, 2013
I thought this book was ok despite the typos and grammar issues. The author went through a lot and her story shows her strength and her self-awareness. She gives an insiders view in bipolar disorder. I still cant believe that some children survive their parents and she is no exception.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews