Jungian discussion thread, anyone interested?

[mummysmellsofsick]

?The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of the parents." --C.G. Jung

These words come back to me every day since giving birth to my son. But it is by definition difficult to assess that burden because the unlived life is normally unconscious. As Marie Louise Von Franz said (and I quote her loosely as I can't remember where) ?one can't see one's own back"

What do people understand by these words and how can we lesson the burden for our DCs?

My children are entitled to live their own lives, my expectations are my own. My hopes for them are my own and they will have their own.

I see the quote as a warning to parents not to make their children into the lives they didn't live.

Yes faeriefruitcake I agree but I also think it's more about the things we deny in ourselves so much that we no longer know they're there. Doesn't seem like mumsnet is crawling with Jungians does it! I wonder if anyone else is interested in how the personal/ family shadow affects a child...

I think it's natural to want the things/opportunities for your child that perhaps you were denied yourself when you were growing up. I know I do, but I'm also aware that my dcs are individuals in their own right and have their own interests and aspirations. I would hate to be one of those parents who tries to live out their life again through their children, it's nauseating and horrible for the child.

Yes it is natural. I wanted a DD to give her things I never had... Fortunately I have a DD so he won't need to live those things for me. Poor thing is crying right now better go & see what I can do...

I'm trying not to burden my children, my life has been lived (and some) so hopefully they will emerge less burdened by the idea that I gave things up to have them. I didn't. I think as an older mother there is less unlived life than others.