Perhaps the picture that had their own family was too mixed with their hopes and fears so that they could ever see you as the person you were.
In this quote from J. Courtney Sullivan's book Maine, the speaker reflects on how family members can become so entangled with their own hopes and fears that they struggle to see each person clearly for who they truly are. The muddying of perceptions is a result of emotional investment, which can distort understanding and relationships within a family dynamic.
The quote suggests that family members often view each other's identities through a lens colored by their own desires, aspirations, and anxieties. This emotional haze makes it difficult for family members to perceive one another objectively, potentially leading to misunderstandings and missed connections.
