We have to come to terms with the fact that we’re not going to change our parents.
And once you know that, you can release so much anger and pain because you understand that they’re not going to change, and that you can change your reaction and your attitude, and that’s very freeing ... .
Get to know your parents’ history, because so much of what we are fighting against when we’re fighting our parents is who they are.
And they are who they are because of any number of factors. But a lot has to do with their history, and when we give up the fantasy parents, of who we want them to be for us, then we can deal with them exactly as they are.
And perhaps have some empathy for why they are who they are.
Dr. Dale Atkins
Dr. Dale's website
Psychologist, author, sanity-saver
Listen to the full interview below, and feel free to share your comments.
As a parent, the same struggle exists with accepting our children as they are! Perhaps, in some way, it is worse, as we who are parents feel the tremendous weight of responsibility to shape and guide our children. Yet, they are increasingly independent beings, with “wiring” that can perhaps be modified somewhat but not fundamentally changed...this generational struggle goes both ways!