Not sure whether I've massively failed at parenting.
7yo had a complete meltdown at bedtime tonight. Convinced that daddy and mummy will send him away.
Triggered by a scene in a film which reminded him of previous conversations where we've talked about how he will grow up to be an independent adult one day, but now he thinks that will be enforced an he can't (obviously) picture himself as having the emotional and mental resources to cope independently, so is picturing himself thrown out of the house all alone. It was heartbreaking but he honestly seemed to believe that this was an inescapable fate and that no matter how much we say we love him, eventually he will be banished.
So finally after many many tears, reassured him enough to get him asleep, swearing that we will never throw him out (but will I live to regret that promise if he ends up a 30 year old refusing to get a job) and now wondering how it all went wrong. Should parents never mention concepts of eventual independence to young kids? Or am I just taking a random sleep-avoidance tactic way way too seriously which is DH's theory.
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Behaviour/development
Traumatised by idea of independence?
13 replies
peukpokicuzo · 19/02/2017 22:52
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