I felt the same towards my father for most of my childhood. he was my hero and I always looked forward to seeing him. It seems so strange to think that now he is a stranger to me, and whilst he might be disappointed in how I turned out according to what he considers success to be, I'm also pretty disappointed in him, which I'm sure he didn't count on.
It's only ever meant to be what the father thinks about the son or daughter...what we think is never given as much importance, but I think it's always valid to recognize what you feel, and for me, I loved my parents so much once, and the constant minimilization, invalidating, negation of my reality, and silent treatment, as well as gaslighting and making fun of me for his own amusement, all added up to me losing all those feelings for him, and a definite lack of respect creeped in and took over instead.
At times it can be helpful in healing to remember that they are children who have been taught in faulty ways and are not self-aware, and are to be pitied...but when you feel so much hatred and anger towards them, it isn't much help to be reminded. It doesn't change the fact that they have destroyed a once loving relationship and don't even see that they did it.
I think as young kids we do put our parents up on a pedestal...and they are gods to us. We rely on them for everything. Their mistake is that they get too attached to that position, and become drunk on the power, which blinds them. Cavernous holes of corruption is all that is left by the time we reach adulthood.
It's good to be honest with ourselves, as unpleasant as that can be. At one stage I wanted to make so much money so I could set them up for life, for giving me this gift of life...and now they are strangers that I have no desire to see right now, and possibly ever again. Crazy how things can change in life.
It's only ever meant to be what the father thinks about the son or daughter...what we think is never given as much importance, but I think it's always valid to recognize what you feel, and for me, I loved my parents so much once, and the constant minimilization, invalidating, negation of my reality, and silent treatment, as well as gaslighting and making fun of me for his own amusement, all added up to me losing all those feelings for him, and a definite lack of respect creeped in and took over instead.
At times it can be helpful in healing to remember that they are children who have been taught in faulty ways and are not self-aware, and are to be pitied...but when you feel so much hatred and anger towards them, it isn't much help to be reminded. It doesn't change the fact that they have destroyed a once loving relationship and don't even see that they did it.
I think as young kids we do put our parents up on a pedestal...and they are gods to us. We rely on them for everything. Their mistake is that they get too attached to that position, and become drunk on the power, which blinds them. Cavernous holes of corruption is all that is left by the time we reach adulthood.
It's good to be honest with ourselves, as unpleasant as that can be. At one stage I wanted to make so much money so I could set them up for life, for giving me this gift of life...and now they are strangers that I have no desire to see right now, and possibly ever again. Crazy how things can change in life.