One of the most difficult emotions for survivors of childhood abuse to talk about is the desire to see an abusive parent suffer. Society expects children to love, forgive, and honour their parents, no matter what happened behind closed doors. As a result, many adult survivors carry feelings of anger, resentment, and even thoughts of… Read More When the Wounded Child Wants the Parent to Suffer
After years of extensive research (and surviving one very determined individual), experts have finally identified a rare condition known as Chronic Correctness Syndrome (CCS). Common Symptoms Believing every disagreement is a personal attack. Treating a simple property settlement like a 15-round heavyweight title fight. Holding onto contracts as if they are ancient treasure maps. Rejecting perfectly… Read More The Olympic Sport of Never Being Wrong
There comes a point in life when we all have to stop blaming, stop making excuses, stop explaining away uncomfortable realities, and take a long, honest look in the mirror. Not a quick glance at the surface. A deep look. An honest look. A courageous look. Many parents struggle to understand why their adult children… Read More The Mirror We Often Avoid Looking Into
One of the most uncomfortable truths about parenting is that children learn far more from what they observe than from what they are told. Parents may spend years teaching values, giving advice, and explaining what is important in life. Yet children are often paying closer attention to behaviour than words. They watch how we treat… Read More Children Often Learn What We Live, Not What We Say
One of the most painful situations an ageing parent can face is when their adult children make it clear they don’t want to be involved in their care, wellbeing, or future. The reality is that some people are happy for someone else to carry the responsibility. They may not want to help, visit, support, or… Read More When the Children Don’t Want to Know
One of the most painful realities some parents face is the growing realisation that their adult children have no intention of helping, supporting, or caring for them as they grow older. This is not about expecting children to sacrifice their own lives or become full-time carers. Most loving parents want their children to be independent,… Read More When Adult Children Make It Clear They Won’t Be There
The Garage Full of Fishing Rods Nearly two years. Nearly two years of waiting for someone to collect the life they left behind. The cupboards.The drawers.The forgotten paperwork.The random cables nobody understands.The clothes still hanging exactly where they were abandoned.And, of course, the garage. Ah yes… the garage. A shrine to fishing. Enough rods, reels,… Read More Reinventing Yourself
The Price of a 32-Year Apology follow up! There’s a strange moment that sometimes arrives after a long relationship ends—not dramatic, not explosive—but quiet. A moment where you look around and suddenly realise: wait… what actually was that? Not through anger. Not through bitterness. Just clarity. And sometimes clarity has a sense of humour. The “memory-filled… Read More When Sentiment Gets Loud, But the Receipts Tell a Different Story
Many people enter marriage hoping their partner will change for the better, especially if they’ve experienced cruelty or meanness during the relationship. However, the truth is that mean behavior doesn’t magically vanish after the wedding or even after divorce. Some women hold on to the hope that this timethings will be different, but cruelty and meanness… Read More Mean Before, Mean After: Why Marriage Isn’t a Magic Makeover
If, over the years, the dynamic has been: transactional rather than supportive distant rather than involved critical rather than encouraging …then later in life, that dynamic often continues — just in reverse. So yes, it’s worth asking: When was the last time you: Offered help without being asked? Took pressure off instead of adding to… Read More Consistent behaviour creates consistent outcomes.
