How To Handle A Problem Parent

Psychology Today:

We each owe our existence to our parents, and in many cases, we'll never fully appreciate their sacrifices on our behalf. But prospective parents don't have to pass mental-health tests to procreate, and parents with difficult personalities come in as many flavors as emotionally challenged suitors. Some are "helicopter parents," always hovering, anxious and overprotective; some neglect their children's needs out of selfishness or mild depression; others seethe with anger, unhappiness, or jealousy, lashing out at their offspring--physically or verbally--on a regular basis. But such parents can nevertheless come across to outsiders as involved and loving, so children receive little independent confirmation that something is wrong with the way they're being treated.

Read the whole story: Psychology Today

Comments

[NicoleAnonymous]

How about a mother who has never in her entire life expressed an interest in your life such as your job or the men you're involved with, who forgets your birthday every year, who only calls to talk about herself, claims she doesn't know your age, didn't offer sympathy for you after your father died although she knew how close you were but instead asked how much money he left her, used to forget to pick you up from gradeschool so you had to take a bus but got lost and the police had to find you, kicked you out of the house during winter break from college during a snowstorm so you had to spend the night in a hotel until you could get back to the dorms, knew you were upset that you had to spend Passover alone this year but still didn't even bother calling you on the holiday and only calls you to talk about herself?

Is that considered a "problem" parent? Just curious...

[happycat]

sounds like a person who never should never have been a parent. I am sorry to say that.

[lisakaz2]

Can't resist:

No Wire Hangers -- EVER!!!!!!

[happycat]

One of the best movie scenes of all time! My brothers and I used to reenact that scene over and over when we were growing up. I still remember it word for word.