In many families, parents are not unloving or neglectful; their problem often boils down to one thing—difficulty expressing emotions within the relationship. Due to a lack of physical responses, emotional responses, and consistent, stable connection, children are prone to develop a deep-seated belief that "expressing needs will make the relationship tense." As a result, their attachment system struggles to develop steadily. As adults, this may manifest as excessive independence, emotional suppression, or high relationship anxiety and fear of separation. These seemingly opposite states fundamentally stem from the same early experience: emotions were never truly received. What truly needs adjustment is not the child, but the parents' avoidance of intimacy—avoiding withdrawal when the child approaches, expressing emotions through words rather than evaluating behaviors, and acknowledging their own limitations. Because what children truly need is not perfect parents, but adults who are willing to engage in the relationship and allow love to be felt.
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In many families, parents are not unloving or neglectful; their problem often boils down to one thing—difficulty expressing emotions within the relationship. Due to a lack of physical responses, emotional responses, and consistent, stable connection, children are prone to develop a deep-seated belief that "expressing needs will make the relationship tense." As a result, their attachment system struggles to develop steadily. As adults, this may manifest as excessive independence, emotional suppression, or high relationship anxiety and fear of separation. These seemingly opposite states fundamentally stem from the same early experience: emotions were never truly received. What truly needs adjustment is not the child, but the parents' avoidance of intimacy—avoiding withdrawal when the child approaches, expressing emotions through words rather than evaluating behaviors, and acknowledging their own limitations. Because what children truly need is not perfect parents, but adults who are willing to engage in the relationship and allow love to be felt.