The Importance of Raising Good Men and Strong Women

The decision to become a parent is not one to be taken lightly. Sometimes it occurs by carefully considered choice and in other circumstances, it comes as a surprise. Ideally, a child is welcomed into a family; cherished and nurtured with both food and love. Sadly, that is not always the case. The offices of psychotherapists are filled with clients who were subjects of relationships gone awry, of neglect and abuse. Words that sting as harshly as objects used to deliver punishing blows are spewed in anger, causing sometimes irreparable damage. The adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me,” is inaccurate. Words hurt. Those spoken and those left unsaid. Many reflect multi-generational patterns that are passed on as certainly as DNA. Cringeworthy statements that clearly let a child know that he or she was an accident, a burden, unwanted and unworthy are the insidious seeds planted that lead the person to treatment if they are proactive and to downward spirals, addiction and perhaps death, if not.   A few years ago, I met a young woman who had a ‘surprise’ pregnancy with a man who was no longer her partner. Subsequently, she had a miscarriage and although she felt sad about the loss, the experience came with a bit of wisdom that she shared with me. “When you have a baby, know that you are not just raising a child, but an adult.” Not something that many parents think about, as evidenced by some of the conversations that occur behind t...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anger Children and Teens Family LifeHelper Parenting Psychotherapy Psychotherapy Stories Treatment Addiction adopting Child Development Child Psychology coparenting Divorce Modeling Source Type: blogs