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PARENTING/FORGIVENESS

How Long Does a Parent Take the Blame for Their Child’s Unhappiness

My daughter even blames me for her father’s death

Klara Jane Holloway

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little girl with dad
Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash

“My problems are all because I came from a broken home.”

I hear Constance, my second oldest daughter, frequently say this. Each time I listen to it, I feel immense guilt.

She often uses the term “broken home” as part of her identity — the reason for the depression she has.

Her father and I divorced 37 years ago. She is now 42. He’s been dead for almost seven years.

He always told her he had nothing to do with our divorce and did nothing to contribute to the demise of our marriage.

That makes me the sole breaker of our “home.”

I am at fault for all her unhappiness, physical and mental problems, and social issues.

Her worst accusation is I killed her father.

She says if I had not divorced him, I would have been taking care of him for the last 25 years of his life when he neglected his diabetes.

I would have made him take his meds and see a doctor more often.

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