Elyse

“he only loves me when I’m happy,
when I make him feel like a man,
smiling cheek to cheek,
giving all that I am.
but when I break into pieces,
smaller than sand,
he lets me slip through his fingers,
and I’m alone again.”
― Rose Brik, My Father's Eyes, My Mother's Rage

“Emotionally immature parents don’t try to understand the emotional experiences of other people—including their own children. If accused of being insensitive to the needs or feelings of others, they become defensive, saying something along the lines of “Well, you should have said so!” They might add something about not being a mind reader, or they might dismiss the situation by saying the hurt person is overly emotional or too sensitive.”
― Lindsay C. Gibson, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents

“After a while, the booze and the drugs became her problem, which was convenient because she didn't have to deal with her real problem anymore.”
― Glennon Doyle, Untamed

“The most painful interactions with emotionally immature parents occur when their children need something from them. Whether it’s attention, love, or communication, many neglected children continue to seek some kind of positive emotional regard from their parents well into adulthood, even though their parents aren’t the giving type.”
― Lindsay C. Gibson, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents