Podcasts > Good Inside with Dr. Becky > Revisit - When Only One Parent Will Do

Revisit - When Only One Parent Will Do

By Dr. Becky

Parental rejection can bring up difficult and complex emotions for both children and parents. On this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, a mother details her feelings of inadequacy when her young children explicitly prefer her husband over her in moments of distress. Dr. Becky Kennedy offers strategies for coping with these situations, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion and reframing one's perspective.

Rather than suppressing feelings of embarrassment or self-doubt, Kennedy encourages parents to acknowledge and validate their emotions while using techniques like empathy and humor to connect with the child's underlying needs. This episode aims to help caregivers navigate the emotional terrain of parental preference with greater self-awareness and understanding.

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Revisit - When Only One Parent Will Do

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Revisit - When Only One Parent Will Do

1-Page Summary

Parental preference and rejection

A mother calls in, sharing the painful feelings of rejection when her young children prefer their father, Dr. Becky Kennedy says. The caller finds it embarrassing, especially in public, when her son (5) or daughter (2) explicitly ask for their dad during difficult moments, like being comforted or taken to school.

Maternal feelings of inadequacy

The caller expresses sadness and self-doubt about her parenting abilities when her children reject her in favor of her husband, Kennedy explains. She worries she's not meeting their needs as well as him. These public rejections in front of others amplify her embarrassment.

The caller struggles not to let these moments define her broader mothering abilities, Kennedy notes. She feels selfish and less capable compared to her spouse, who the children seem to prefer.

Coping strategies and perspectives

Kennedy offers strategies to help the caller reframe and cope:

  • Use "AVP" - Acknowledge, Validate, and Permit the emotion. Don't suppress it.
  • Name the emotion to create distance: "I feel rejected right now. That doesn't mean I'm a bad parent."
  • Try small changes like waking earlier to be more present, not to "prove" anything.
  • Use empathy ("You want Daddy") or humor to connect with the child's underlying desire.

Kennedy emphasizes these work best from a grounded state - after one has acknowledged their own emotions, per Kennedy.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Reframing emotions involves changing the way one perceives and interprets their feelings in a given situation. It's about shifting perspectives to see emotions in a more constructive or positive light. This technique can help individuals manage difficult emotions and situations more effectively by altering their mindset. By reframing emotions, individuals can gain new insights, reduce negative impacts, and improve their emotional well-being.
  • Understanding and connecting with a child's underlying desire involves recognizing the emotional need or want that drives their behavior or requests. It's about empathizing with what the child is truly seeking or feeling beneath the surface. By acknowledging and addressing this deeper desire, caregivers can better respond to the child's needs and emotions. This approach helps build a stronger emotional connection and fosters a more supportive and understanding relationship between the caregiver and the child.

Counterarguments

  • While acknowledging and validating emotions is important, it's also crucial to address the root causes of the feelings of rejection to prevent them from recurring.
  • The concept of "AVP" might not be sufficient for everyone; some individuals may require more structured support or therapy to cope with their emotions.
  • The idea of waking up earlier to be more present might not be practical for every parent due to various life circumstances, such as work schedules or other commitments.
  • Using humor to connect with a child's underlying desire may not always be appropriate, especially if it undermines the seriousness of the child's feelings or the situation.
  • The preference of children for one parent over another can sometimes be a phase and not necessarily a reflection of the parents' abilities or the quality of their relationship with the child.
  • The advice given may not take into account the full context of the family dynamics, and what works for one family may not work for another.
  • The focus on the mother's feelings, while important, should not overshadow the needs of the children or the family as a whole; a balance is needed to ensure that the children's preferences are also understood and respected.
  • The strategies suggested may not address potential issues in the parental relationship that could be influencing the children's preferences.
  • It's important to consider that the father's availability and parenting style might also contribute to the children's preference, and exploring this could be beneficial for the family dynamic.

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Revisit - When Only One Parent Will Do

Parental preference and rejection

A mother calls in to share the difficult experiences about her young children’s preference for their father, expressing how these scenarios feel like personal rejection and cause feelings of embarrassment, especially in public situations.

The caller's experiences of her youngitnesses of others, leading to feelings of embarrassment for the mother

The caller, a mother, talks about her son and daughter—aged five and two—showing a distinct preference for their father over her. She notes instances where her son wanted his dad to take him to school or expressed a desire for his father to be present during bedtime book reading. These moments of preference, particularly when one of her children is upset, are especially hurtful as they turn to their father for comfort instead of her. The caller finds it challenging when, in moments of distress, her son explicitly states, "I want daddy," and insists that his father is the one ...

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Parental preference and rejection

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The children's preference for their father over their mother can impact the mother's sense of motherliness by making her feel inadequate or rejected in her maternal role. This preference can lead the mother to question her abilities and worth as a parent, affecting her self-esteem and confidence in her mothering skills. The public display of these ...

Counterarguments

  • Children's preferences can be fluid and change over time; it may not be a permanent rejection of the mother.
  • The preference for one parent can sometimes be a phase related to developmental stages or routines that involve one parent more than the other.
  • The children's behavior might not be a reflection of the mother's abilities but rather a normal part of child development.
  • Public displays of preference may not be an indictment of the mother's parenting but could be influenced by many factors, including the children's mood, needs at the moment, or even a response to the dynamics they observe.
  • The mother's sense of embarrassment, while valid, could be influenced by societal expectations of motherhood rather than the actual opinions of onlookers.
  • The children's preference for their father in certain situations does not necessarily mean they do not find comfort or love in their mother.
  • The mother's feelings of hurt are understandable, but it's also important to consider that young children often do not intend to cause hurt with their preferences ...

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Revisit - When Only One Parent Will Do

Maternal feelings of inadequacy

A caller details her emotional struggles as a mother feeling overshadowed by her spouse's parental role, leading to doubts about her own capabilities and feelings of inadequacy.

The caller's feelings of embarrassment, sadness, and questioning her parenting abilities when her children reject her in favor of her husband

The caller shares her distressing experience of feeling less adequate as a mother, particularly when her children express a preference for their father, especially during times of distress. The caller experiences sadness and begins to doubt her adequacy as a parent, as she perceives her children viewing her husband as the more nurturing one.

She worries that she might not be meeting her children’s needs as well as her husband is. The sense of embarrassment is heightened when these instances occur in front of others, like her own parents, further contributing to her self-doubt.

Struggling to separate these moments of rejection from broader narratives about her abilities as a mother

The caller s ...

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Maternal feelings of inadequacy

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The caller expresses feelings of inadequacy as a mother when her children show a preference for their father, leading to doubts about her parenting abilities and self-worth. She experiences embarrassment and sadness when her children reject her in favor of her husband, especially during times of distress. The caller struggles to separate these moments of rejection from her overall perception of her capabilities as a mother, feeling selfish and less competent compared to her spouse. These emotions highlight the challenges many mothers face in defining their worth within the context of their parental roles.
  • The caller perceives her husband as the more nurturing parent due to the children's apparent preference for him during times of distress. This perception may stem from the father's specific parenting style or the children's comfort seeking solace from him. It can also be influenced by societal norms that often portray mothers as the primary nurturers, leading the caller to question her own abilities in comparison.
  • The caller feels inadequate compared to her husband in terms of parenting, as she perceives her children favoring him over her. This comparison leads her to doubt her own parenting abilities and feel overshadowed by her spouse's role in their children's lives. The caller's feelings of inadequacy stem from a perceived imbalance in nurturing and support between herself and her husband, causing her to question her worth as a mother. This dynamic highlights the internal struggle many mothers face in defining their roles and self ...

Counterarguments

...

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Revisit - When Only One Parent Will Do

Coping strategies and perspectives

Dr. Becky provides coping strategies to help the caller reframe and cope with the difficult feelings of rejection she's experiencing from her child.

Strategies Dr. Becky offers to help the caller reframe and cope with these difficult las

Acknowledging, validating, and permitting oneself to feel the painful emotions, rather than suppressing or avoiding them

Kennedy introduces the concept of AVP, which stands for Acknowledge, Validate, Permit as a mechanism for coping with difficult emotions. To apply this method, Dr. Becky instructs the caller to acknowledge what's happening internally, which could include a racing heart or sweaty palms, and feelings of discomfort and rejection. After acknowledgment, it is crucial to validate the feeling by explaining why it makes sense in the context, helping them understand that it's normal to feel sad or upset when experiencing rejection. Finally, Dr. Becky advises the caller to permit themselves to feel the emotion fully, reinforcing that experiencing and acknowledging emotions is okay.

Kennedy also encourages the caller to name the feeling, which creates a separation between them and the emotion, rather than allowing the emotion to become all-encompassing. Dr. Becky reassures the caller that her feelings and experiences are normal and not unique, highlighting that many parents face similar situations.

Separating the emotion from global judgments about one's parenting skills

Becky Kennedy helps the caller separate her emotional reaction to moments when her children prefer their father from broader judgments about her parenting abilities. In one exercise, Kennedy has the caller say, "In this moment, I feel rejected," and then, "And that doesn't mean anything about the type of parent I am" to dissociate the immediate feeling of rejection from a broader judgement about her parenting. Dr. Becky encourages looking into what triggers lead to questioning one's parenting and recognizes that feelings must not be allowed to spiral into negative self-judgments.

Considering small, concrete ways to show up more calmly and presently for her children, without trying to constantly prove herself

Kennedy suggests considering small ways to show a c ...

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Coping strategies and perspectives

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • When separating emotions from global judgments about parenting skills, the focus is on recognizing that feeling a certain way in a specific moment does not define one's overall parenting abilities. It involves acknowledging that emotions like rejection are temporary and situational, rather than a reflection of one's competence as a parent. By dissociating immediate emotional responses from broader assessments of parenting, individuals can maintain a healthier perspective on their self-worth and parenting capabilities. This practice helps prevent emotional reactions from leading to negative self-judgments about one's parenting skills.
  • Using empathy or humor to connect with a child's underlying desire involves acknowledging and understanding what the child truly wants or feels, even if it is expressed through rejection. By showing empathy, a paren ...

Counterarguments

  • While acknowledging and validating emotions is important, some individuals may find that dwelling on negative emotions can exacerbate their distress rather than alleviate it.
  • The AVP method assumes that individuals have a level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence that allows them to effectively identify and process their emotions, which may not be the case for everyone.
  • Naming the feeling to create separation might not be sufficient for some people, especially if the emotions are deeply rooted or linked to past traumas.
  • Reassuring the caller that her feelings are normal might inadvertently minimize the unique aspects of her personal experience and the complexity of her emotional response.
  • Separating emotions from judgments about parenting skills can be challenging in practice, as emotions can be deeply intertwined with one's self-concept and self-esteem.
  • Small, concrete ways to show up calmly for children might not address underlying issues that contribute to a parent's stress ...

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