Navigating a Traumatic Childhood

• 💔 Brittany recounts her parents' seven-year divorce battle, which began when she was six, creating a deep family divide.
• ⚖️ Her mother, diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, used legal and manipulative tactics, including attempting to bribe Brittany to testify against her father.
• 🚨 A particularly harrowing incident involved her mother calling the police and having her father arrested on Father's Day for wanting to see his children.
• 🌲 Brittany's mother's ashes were accidentally scattered in her father's hunting coat pocket, a darkly ironic twist.

Early Life and Addiction

• 🏡 Growing up, Brittany's mother was overprotective, limiting social activities and exposure to the outside world, leading Brittany to feel she had to "make up for lost time" upon gaining independence.
• 🍻 Alcohol became a coping mechanism and a way to gain social acceptance, transforming her from an isolated individual to someone who felt popular.
• 🎓 Her mother sabotaged her college fund, draining it before she turned 18, forcing Brittany to attend UW-Milwaukee on a free ride before eventually transferring to Marquette.

Mother's Struggles and Passing

• 💔 Brittany's mother struggled with mental illness, including undiagnosed borderline personality disorder and later schizophrenia, leading to a strained relationship.
• 📞 After years of estrangement, Brittany's mother died by suicide in 2017, six years after their last conversation.
• 🕊️ Brittany experienced a mix of devastation and relief upon hearing the news, recognizing it as an end to her mother's suffering and her own cycle of enabling.
• 🍺 She has been sober since the day after her mother's funeral, dedicating her sobriety to her mother's difficult but ultimately correct advice.

Personal Relationships and Growth

• 💔 Brittany reflects on her marriage, which lasted five years, and her subsequent divorce, attributing it to her own struggles with codependency and a subconscious belief that she was unworthy of healthy love.
• 🌱 She is committed to personal growth and self-love, recognizing the need to heal before entering another relationship.
• 🤝 Brittany remains good friends with her ex-husband, co-parenting their dog and supporting each other's journeys.
• 👨‍👧 Her father, who has also been through multiple divorces, is now happily remarried and supportive of Brittany's journey.

Life Lessons and Advice

• ✨ Brittany advises her 16-year-old self that everything will be okay and suggests being more selective about sexual partners.
• 🎓 She shares that her high school years were less about body count and more about finding acceptance, with college being where her sexual exploration truly began.
• 🎤 Currently on tour, Brittany plans to take a break after her shows to focus on her personal well-being.