But WAS it a curse? I’m not actually certain of that . . . .
Let’s say that your daughter (if you have one) having come of age, decides to move in with a boy you know to be a lifestyle liar, who will not look for a job and who on the few occasions when he’s had one, has been inconsistent in showing up for work and disrespectful to the boss, is in addition, misogynistic, domineering, and needy, tends to stay out all night and sleep all day, and has never taken care of himself in his life. What a nightmare!
You say to her, knowing that you cannot forbid her choice and that she is determined and will not be talked out of it, "You will work for him and he will spend all the money you make. He’ll pawn all your possessions of any value and you will have to pay them off, only so that he can pawn them again. You’ll have his babies, do all the work to care for them, continue in your unskilled employment, but you won’t be able to trust him to watch the kids while you’re at work. You’ll never have a house and probably never even have a rental trailer; every time your car breaks down it will be a major catastrophe. You’ll always be on food stamps, always on medicaid, and this state of affairs will go on for as long as he is with you. Eventually there will be too many children and he will leave you alone with them at last, and you will be inexpressibly grateful that he did.
Now in saying this, have you just pronounced a curse on your daughter? No, of course not. You love your daughter and your heart is broken at the prospect of what life is going to be like for her (and you) because of her foolish decisions. You’re just telling her what to expect.
That’s the way I see the “curse” in the garden. I’m not saying I’m right, but it’s something to think about.