Posted by Dinah on February 22, 2004, at 16:11:26
In reply to What do you tell your parents?, posted by fallsfall on February 22, 2004, at 13:20:09
Sounds like you've got one parent on board! That's not half bad.
I agree with Karen Kay. If you keep trying with your Mom, you're likely to get hurt. It's nothing about you and everything about her limitations. It doesn't mean you can't have a good relationship with her, within her abilities. But it's not unlikely that you can't have the sort of relationship you'd like to have with her.
But you can try with your dad!
You're a Mom yourself. And as you say, there's a genetic component to these things. (We started setting aside for my son's future therapy before he was born.) It's likely that in some way or another you've been less than an ideal parent. Gasp!!! I don't mean any disrespect by that, or to make any comments on your parenting abilities. I just figure we all let our kids down somehow in a way that gives them plenty of future material for therapy. We're too close and intrusive or too distant. We're too rigid or too permissive. No one can balance on that fine line of perfect. What can you learn from your experience with your parents that will help you help your kids better should they ever come to you to discuss their therapy. Can you think of ways that they could do it that would make it easier for you to respond positively? Perhaps you can use some of those techniques with your dad, and maybe even your Mom.
poster:Dinah
thread:316484
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040218/msgs/316562.html