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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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.
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.
Kennedy offers strategies to help the caller reframe and cope:
Kennedy emphasizes these work best from a grounded state - after one has acknowledged their own emotions, per Kennedy.
1-Page Summary
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, 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 ...
Parental preference and rejection
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 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.
The caller s ...
Maternal feelings of inadequacy
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Dr. Becky provides coping strategies to help the caller reframe and cope with the difficult feelings of rejection she's experiencing from her child.
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.
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.
Kennedy suggests considering small ways to show a c ...
Coping strategies and perspectives
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