Well, we are into Monday now and it’s time for another insightful blog. My absence over the weekend was due to me doing some actual work for some actual money and I never turn it down when it comes my way. I have a family to feed so my excuse is valid and I think even Epstein’s mother would agree. Now, onto my topic. Prepare to be disturbed. Prepare to be very disturbed.
I did not think there was the slightest chance of me becoming Mother of the Year until I read this story, now I think I have a shot. Following in the footsteps of both Joan Crawford and Bette Davis’ daughters, Shirley MacLaine’s daughter Sachi has come forward with some stories about her mom which really paints her in a negative light, to say the least. For those of you who are dying for another Mommy Dearest, here it is, Lucky Me: My Life With — and Without – My Mom, Shirley MacLaine. I haven’t read it or anything but I did read up on some of her accounts.
According to Sachi, her mom chose her career over her child and ignored her until she was 17. After that, all of a sudden she wanted to get close to her by urging her to loose her virginity at her beachfront home. She wanted to bond with her daughter over her first sexual experience. You’re doing it wrong Shirley. Anyways, after Sachi and her boyfriend had gone off to the bedroom, Shirley was in the next room with 2 of her sex gurus waiting for her daughter to be deflowered so they could all talk about it afterwards. Awkward. Apparently the young couple thought so too. They were in the bedroom, afraid to report back when her mom started tapping on the door asking if they were ok. Really awkward. “We’re ok mom, I just need a few more inches.” I’m sorry but I can’t even think about either of my parents while I’m just watching a love scene on TV or have them anywhere near my house when I feel frisky. It’s like a bucket of cold water. Shirley’s daughter says she felt like she was surrounded by Satanists like in Rosemary’s Baby. I can imagine.
As I read further, this was the least disturbing part of what Sachi had to say. At the tender age of 2, she was shipped off to Japan to live with her father – alone. If you are going to send your small child off on a plane, at least make sure they are accompanied by somebody. You would think after living all those lifetimes that Shirley would surely know not to put a 2 year old child on a plane by herself. Shirley needs to wake up to herself. One year Sachi was left alone at boarding school on Christmas because neither parent showed up. Maybe Shirley was transcendentally meditating and couldn’t get back into her body in time. Who knows. Needless to say, Satchi had no idea whatsoever where they were. I cannot imagine leaving my child in limbo with no way to contact me. Luckily, a friend’s parent felt sorry for her so they took her to Yugoslavia with them. At least someone cared. It wasn’t Shirley or her husband. To me, this just boggles the mind. Why set your child up for disappointment, especially at Christmas? I can’t imagine not being present in my children’s lives. Not only that but it’s also my duty to take care of them since I’m the one who brought them into this world. Anyways, back to poor Sachi….
When Sachi was grown, she was forced to take jobs waitressing and being a flight attendant to work her way through college. I’m not saying that’s bad at all but her mom could have helped her out a little with tuition. When she asked her mom to help her buy a car, Shirley loaned her the money with interest. Now this last part just seems like tough love but seeing how Shirley treated her daughter since she was a kid, you have to wonder if she’s just a cold-hearted women. I also have to wonder where Warren Beatty was during all this. I know if my brother and sister was treating any of their kids like this, I would have stepped in. I have threatened to call social services on one of them before for lesser offenses. I guess money talks otherwise Shirley and would have gone to jail for negligence.
I feel so sorry for Sachi. I really do. It seems like she got no love or attention from her mother at all. She said when she watched Shirley’s in-flight movies she yearned for her. She still craves her love and affection. So Sad. This makes me thankful I had the parents I did. We didn’t have a ton of money but our parents were alway present and reachable. It may seem like these kids that are born to famous parents have it all but we see that isn’t true. Ask Julian Lennon. At least he had his mom which was probably his saving grace. I never understood why he was treated so badly by his father but that is worthy of a whole other blog.
I wasn’t born to wealthy, famous parents but I wouldn’t trade the simple, happy childhood I had for anything in the world.
Not my Betty Davis! Say it ain’t so!! Now, that is disturbing. Seriously though, poor Sache. The downside to having a strong, independent, successful….career, men, money, and ego driven mother….is they usually don’t have time for children. Most mothers make their children the center of their universe. Others, like Shirley MacLaine, thrive off of being the center of attention. Can’t imagine what it must have been like for Sache to live under that stars shadow. Thanks for the chuckle: “We’re ok mom, I just need a couple more inches”!!! I mean…what the ??? Really?!? Awkward! Your last paragraph touched me. I can relate. And what you said about your parents was sweet. So often in life, people hear what they did wrong; I’m sure they (esp. parents) love to hear when they did right. “Simple, Happy Childhood”… sounds simply wonderful! Love it.
I love me some Bette Davis. I’m not sure about her daughter’s account. In a Bette biography I read she said she just wanted her daughter to be happy in life. Bette helped her daughter by keeping her and her husband from losing from losing their house then repays her by writing a book about her mom as an abusive drunk. She said that was her greatest heartache. I bet it was. But you never know what goes on behind closed doors. In Shirley’s case, I think she is just cold. At least that’s what I hear. A friend of mine approached her once and he said the same. Maybe one day she will see the light. Too bad she didn’t have 2 kids though. Then Sachi would have had somebody. Ya know, my parents made plenty of mistakes but at least we were cared for and loved.