How do you deal with not loving your DC when they grow up?

[Veryveryverysad]

I never really wanted children and got pregnant by accident and was in complete denial about this until six months into my pregnancy.

After that, I got a lot of help and support and, when my baby was born, fell instantly and totally in love with her. I adored her and was happier than I have ever been in my life. We had several wonderful years together.

However, now she is five years old and I don't love her anymore. I love the baby she was, but not the child she has become, and I hate having to bring her up and make her adapt to the world.

I want to leave her with her father and forget it all happened.

I really don't know what to say, but feel I can't say nothing.

You sound very unhappy. Can you pinpoint when or why your feelings towards your daughter changed? Can you speak to your GP? They should be able to put you in touch with other sources of support, such as SureStart and/or a counsellor.

They have been changing in the last year - since she stopped needing me and can manage on her own. She has gone from being a dependent baby to an independent child in the space of a few months.

I'm so sorry you feel like this. The opposite happened to me; I feel I love my DC even more as they grow as the relationship develops.

As you loved your DD so much in the early years, I can't believe that you have actually stopped loving her. There has to be another reason you feel like this. It does sound like depression (I have suffered bouts of this) and it can make you totally illogical in your thinking. As StillCrazy says, I think your first call is to your GP - you deserve to be happy with your DD.