You are not alone in this struggle. Admitting you're struggling to "like" your son is the first step toward finding a path back to a relationship where love—and eventually, like—can flourish again.
Sometimes we see our own worst traits reflected in our children, which triggers a defensive, negative reaction. i-hate-my-son
The first step toward healing is radical honesty. You cannot fix a relationship if you are still pretending the fracture doesn't exist. You are not alone in this struggle
Is your son's behavior related to a specific (toddler, teen, etc.) or a specific diagnosis like ADHD or ODD? Knowing this could help me provide more targeted resources or parenting strategies . I Love My Kids, But I Don't Like Parenting The first step toward healing is radical honesty
Constant battles over bedtime, chores, or school can wear down even the most patient caregiver.
Resentment rarely appears in a vacuum. It is usually the result of a "perfect storm" of factors:
According to experts at Understood.org , these feelings are actually far more universal than we admit. Parenting is one of the only "jobs" where you are expected to provide 24/7 emotional and physical labor regardless of how you are being treated in return. When a child is consistently defiant, disrespectful, or aggressive—especially in cases of Parenting ADHD —it is human nature to feel a "fight or flight" response. Why Does This Happen?