Dear T,
Funny, I'd intended to follow up on some of the stuff from Wednesday, but then once I was talking to you, I didn't really feel the need to do so. Maybe I will in a future session? The stuff with D is just much more pressing in my mind right now. Plus, I felt generally good about what we discussed Wednesday. I wonder if you were surprised that I didn't bring it up?

That thing you said regarding D, the not feeling like I'm getting the "parenting wins," that's really resonating. I mean, this is my only experience of parenting, so it's easy for me to feel like I'm a failure in some--well, many--ways. And it feels selfish to want some sort of...I don't know, rewards, or whatever term you used. But it's a really good point, that parents do tend to get that in some ways, whether outward affection and love from their child, seeing their successes (whether in school, sports, socially, etc.), their child wanting to spend time with them, things like that. And that it can feel like I'm pouring quite a bit in within getting much back. (Ugh, it still sounds so selfish to type that out....)

But it really helps that you seem to get it, that you empathize and are validating my feelings, including feelings that maybe I'm not fully aware of having (or feel ashamed to have).

Love,
LT