Notice that these psychologisms draw attention away from the child and back to the parent, who asks: “How am I doing?” They raise doubts and anxieties, not about the nature of the child, but about the parents’ own problems: Have I the right attitude? Am I too strict? Too lenient? Am I good enough?—all of which reveal the inherent and almost inescap

The particulars of the events that shaped their lives may be obscured from our vision, but nevertheless, the impact of those particulars can be deeply felt. It’s not only what we inherit from our parents but also how they were parented that influences how we relate to a partner, how we relate to ourselves, and how we nurture our children. For bette

For Jungians, Mom and Dad are preview images of the anima and animus. Even if we do imitate Mom and Dad and their style of loving, we’re not photocopies.