About This Blog
You’ve found my blog—fantastic! This is a deeply personal space where I share stories about my family, the challenges of caring for elderly parents, and the unexpected discoveries from my ancestry research. It weaves together fears for the future, the realities of the present, and echoes of the past.
Here, you’ll find stories of family conflict—jealousy, resentment, even hatred and threats among adult siblings. But you’ll also find moments of warmth—memories of better times, the joys and struggles of looking after ageing parents, and reflections on what it all means.
Because I write about real people, I won’t use their actual names. No matter how strained our relationships may be, their privacy deserves protection. And besides, there’s always hope—hope that things might get better.
A Request to Readers
Some posts may feel raw and intimate. I ask everyone who reads them to respect that. If this isn’t your kind of thing, I kindly invite you to move on to places that suit you better.
Who is Esel?
Now, about Esel and me. The blog is named after Esel—not just any toy donkey, but my lifelong companion. In German, der Esel is masculine, but Esel is neither male nor female—just Esel. My friends know Esel, my family knows Esel. He’s older than me (by quite a lot, actually) and is a wise, blind toy donkey.
When I have crazy ideas, when I’m sad, when I’m happy—Esel is there. So it felt only right to name this blog after him.
How I Write
I keep my posts short—under 500 words. I don’t enjoy reading long blog posts myself, and I believe that moments, snippets, and thoughts should stay just that. No over-explaining, no unnecessary detail—just a glimpse into a moment in time.
Where it fits, I’ll title posts after songs that resonate with me, crediting them accordingly.
Join the Conversation
I am in the process of setting up some social media channels where you can share your own experiences with family. Do you face the same struggles? Is it better? Is it worse? There’s comfort in writing—and maybe, in knowing we’re not alone.
