Good Parents Can Fail
As the teen years approached, we began experiencing serious problems with our oldest. My middle child began to rebel, and I was receiving daily calls about the frustration level of my youngest. Add to this a spouse who traveled a lot, a best friend who moved away, and lack of support from folks who tried to understand but couldn’t. My world began to crumble. I felt such shame at not being able to control the behavior of my children. I saw their behavior as a direct result of my inability to be the best mom ever. My identity as a mother, which I mistakenly viewed as the whole reason for my existence, was built on crumbling ground. As I contemplated what the future held in light of each child, I fell into serious depression and utter hopelessness. Mom—tough, determined, and touted as impervious—was broken, flawed, and vulnerable. I had set out to conquer motherhood. Instead, it conquered me.
dtbrents started this discussion 1 year ago. ( )
