A Mom wrote to me recently: "Wow, I just realized only an hour after we spoke that I was seriously overestimating my progress relating with my teenager. Very sad, to have him gaslighting me again today, shifting blame to ME after HE used my car without asking, which he knows he's not allowed to do, and leaving it a mess. The worst part is he has no remorse. Instead of apologizing, he got defensive!"
Can you relate?
Most parents can, especially when you so often go out of your way for your kids. It feels like a slap in the face.
But is it really?
This is a tricky situation and as Brene Brown points out in Atlas of the Heart, when things are hard, shame is usually riding shotgun.