I'm so sorry she told you that. My mother was often saying similar things to me. Luckily, I had my father, who walthough he was a big, strong man, a former chamionship boxer, in fact. As strong as he was physically, he was even strong emotionally and had no shame in being very outwardly sensitive. he cried over movies, tv shows, songs, puppies, whatever.

I know it's little comfort coming from a complete stranger on a writing platform, but your mother was wrong and she did you a disservice. Your emotions are absolutely appropriate. And so is showing them. If you don't have anyone to pour your heart out to, there's always good old fashioned pen and paper, it worked for me for years. But yeah, this stiff upper lip, big girls/boys don't cry etc. garbage really has to stop.