Not loving one of the children

[IlluminatiConfirmed]

If your friend said that she doesn't love one of her children, what would be your reaction, or interpretation of this disclosure? What would you say, feel or do?

Children are close in age and there are no significant physical or behavioral issues with either child. They obviously have different personalities (just like any other two people in this world) but not in a way that makes either of them more difficult than the other.

How does she feel about not loving one?

I would be very worried about her and her children. I would wonder if she was depressed. I think I would assume that her talking about it was a way of her asking her help.

I would also be worried, and that's whether it was said in an off-the-cuff, emotionless way as in they didn't care, or an 'l feel awful, l do not have feelings of love for my child'.

I would encourage her to go to the GP as there may be a treatable MH condition at play.

Good question about how she feels about this, I don't know, it's worth exploring if there will be an opportunity to do this in the future. My guess is that she feels guilty and unlucky; trapped.

She had serious, undeniably depressive episodes a long time ago (pre kids). More recently she had problems at work causing a lot of stress and resulting in redundancy. She took it very personally and struggled to find professional fulfillment after that, despite being successful in other jobs/avenues. She is very talented and financially secure and has a lot to be grateful for - but doesn't feel it.

Another friend from the same group concluded that the 'announcement' was driven by attention seeking behaviour and mother's actions based on these feelings are grossly irresponsible; so this other friend decided not to engage, now or ever.

I'm not sure what to do, I'm undecided. It's just so very sad! No harm in suggesting GP but I'm not holding my breath.

Thanks for your replies.

Another friend from the same group concluded that the 'announcement' was driven by attention seeking behaviour and mother's actions based on these feelings are grossly irresponsible

That sounds very worrying. What actions? I appreciate you may not want to give too specific details, but if the mother's actions are reflecting that lack of feeling you might need to think about taking some action, depending on what's going on.

It's showing favouritism JJJ - subtle enough that not much can be done about it by anyone else apart from the mother but damaging nonetheless.