this post was submitted on 23 Aug 2025
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I can't speak to your exact circumstances, but I would caution against judging your parents too harshly. At least not until you've had more experience as a parent.
You might not be able to imagine doing wrong by your kid now, but we are only human. Parents fail all the time, even when we try our best. We hit limits. We lose our patience. We have bad days.
You need to ensure you allow yourself some grace as a parent. And that grace should extend to other parents, possibly including your own.
But if you were genuinely mistreated, abused, or neglected... then I think those feelings of resentment will only grow more certain over the next 5 or so years as your relationship with your kid puts your relationship with your parents in stark relief.
All to say, I wouldn't rush to condemn. Offer yourself and other parents some grace. Be ready to possibly confront some really uncomfortable feelings as you reevaluate your own childhood experiences in light of your parenting journey.
Stay safe out there!
I really appreciate this perspective and you’re right. I want to be gracious and humble enough to recognize that the job of parenting may be easier right now than it is later.
I feel resentment now, and it makes me want to process it with her now, but maybe I should wait and see.
Just to clarify, your feelings of resentment are valid no matter what. And you can and should address those feelings. I would just advise that if you want to address the subject with your parents directly, try not to come in too hot. If you have a therapist or someone you trust, maybe run your approach by them first and see if they have any helpful feedback. Best of luck!
Excellent advice. Thank you :)
You said it yourself, some of what you missed out on was because you had siblings. Right now, no matter how exhausted you feel sometimes, you have the luxury of having just one child. Being tag-teamed all night and day by multiple kiddos with different needs can cause confusion beyond belief. You not only get the names wrong, you can't remember who you taught what, and whether they were too young to really get it but just happened to be there when you were teaching an older child. And even though you love them all enormously, there isn't always time to give them all the love you feel and they deserve.
Continue to give your child all the love and support you missed out on. And unless your mom was actively bad, don't burn that bridge because she might actually be helpful, gaining you the time and energy to be the best parent you can be.
My goal as a parent is to be a better parent than mine were to me.
I'll know I succeeded when my children are better parents than I am to them.
We have far more knowledge and understanding than our parents did. We all make mistakes. Acknowledge them and look to see if they were trying their best.
I will also mention that parenthood gets more difficult (though also more fulfilling) as they get older. Also, you can be excellent 99% of the time. That 1% bad day will be the one they remember.