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Mandyfins you have my sincerest sympathy. I couldn't stand that place for one more second! The need to control and dominate others was very disturbing.

When it comes to parents, I do believe that many of them mean well. I do believe that most parents sincerely love their children and want what's best for them (I also recognize that's not true of all parents, as many members here can attest). What seems to happen to parents is they get frightened and then they rely on "expert" opinion to fill the places where they feel frightened, overwhelmed and out of their league. Some of them do from the point of conception and you're right -- they miss out on that connection with their kid that might allow for real insight, understanding and healing.

I am sincerely sorry that you don't feel heard. I just had 24 hours worth of it and I'm completely fed up with it. For me, I was able to leave and put it behind me but there isn't those bonds of attachment in place. It's much more difficult when it's a real parent and a real child.

Here's mandyfins, here's a good video for making you laugh. I know it's only a temporary solution but laughter is always good medicine: