Why do I not feel love for my child?

Perhaps you were neglected or abused or had a competitive, controlling, jealous, demeaning, or toxic parent. Often, the very defenses people develop to survive such a childhood can cut them off from intimate and loving feelings for their own progeny.


What causes a mother to not love her child?

Parents have unresolved trauma in their own lives.

For example, a parent who cannot bear to be reminded of his own childhood sadness may be vindictive or punishing to his children when they cry. Another parent may suppress her children's pain in just the opposite way—by over-comforting and over-protecting them.

What do you do when you don't love your child?

What to Do When You Dislike Your Child
  1. Acknowledge Your Feelings. ...
  2. Identify the Cause of Your Feelings. ...
  3. Manage Your Expectations. ...
  4. Get to Know Your Child Better. ...
  5. Stay positive. ...
  6. Commit to Not Criticizing. ...
  7. When There's a Personality Clash with Your Child. ...
  8. Conclusion.


What is cold mother syndrome?

Emotionally absent or cold mothers can be unresponsive to their children's needs. They may act distracted and uninterested during interactions, or they could actively reject any attempts of the child to get close. They may continue acting this way with adult children.

Why do I feel detached from my child?

Feeling disconnected from your child is a usual part of parenting. Although it leaves you questioning your abilities, with some time and effort, you can work on restoring your connection. Excess screen time, neglecting your own needs, and replacing quality time with material things can contribute to the disconnect.


Q&A: I Don't Feel any Love for My Child | Mufti Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf



Is it normal to not bond with your child?

Often, bonding happens gradually over the baby's first year of life. So if you don't feel these strong feelings of closeness in the first days or weeks after birth, that's normal.

What does an emotionally absent parent look like?

They're dismissive or overwhelmed when the child has an emotional need. They're not interested in the child's life (interests, friend groups, school work). They have difficulty expressing their feelings, even with adults. They're unable or unwilling to provide comfort during emotional distress.

What are signs of a toxic mother?

Signs you might have a toxic parent include:
  • They're self-centered. They don't think about your needs or feelings.
  • They're emotional loose cannons. They overreact, or create drama.
  • They overshare. ...
  • They seek control. ...
  • They're harshly critical. ...
  • They lack boundaries.


What is unloved daughter syndrome?

Lack of trust

With an emotionally unreliable mother or one who is combative or hypercritical, the daughter learns that relationships are unstable and dangerous, and that trust is ephemeral and can't be relied on. Unloved daughters have trouble trusting in all relationships but especially friendship.

What happens when a mother doesn't bond with her child?

If bonding between the mother and child does not occur or is poorly established, it is thought to have negative consequences for their relationship. It may also reduce maternal 'feelings', leading to higher levels of maternal irritability and possible rejection and avoidance of the baby (Kinsey & Hupcey, 2013).

Is it possible to not love your child?

While it's perfectly normal to find your child annoying occasionally, or dislike aspects of him or her, not liking them long term can usually be traced back to a reason, or sometimes several. There might have been a rupture in the bonding process.


Is it normal to not want your kid anymore?

It's completely normal; no one is perfect, although many of us expect ourselves to be when it comes to having a child. Parenting is hard, and it can cause anyone to question their ability to raise their child in the way they want to.

How do you fall back in love with your child?

How to Fall in Love With Your Kids All Over Again
  1. Put down my phone and just play. It's so simple but it's harder than it sounds. ...
  2. Have time away from them. Sometimes a morning away, a day at the office or a couple hours to reset is just what I need. ...
  3. Teach them something new. ...
  4. Get enough rest. ...
  5. Put them to bed.


How do you cure lack of motherly love?

These steps may help you heal.
  1. Nurture your inner child. You may want to start with the basics. ...
  2. Understand your parents. ...
  3. Validate your pain. ...
  4. Identify expectations. ...
  5. Try eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) ...
  6. Practice self-compassion.


How can I be more loving to my child?

Here are 19 super-simple things that I try to do regularly to show my kids how much they mean to me:
  1. Tell them you love them. ...
  2. Ask them about their day. ...
  3. Give them your undivided attention. ...
  4. Give praise when praise is due. ...
  5. Say “you” more. ...
  6. Remind them of their strengths. ...
  7. Spend more quality together. ...
  8. Laugh with them.


What is lack of parental love?

Report Ad. Without parental love, children feel rejected by their parents. Parental rejection is experienced as cold, unaffectionate, hostile, aggressive, indifferent, neglected or lack of care.

What does lack of love from a mother do?

On the other hand, children who do not have affectionate parents tend to have lower self esteem and to feel more alienated, hostile, aggressive, and anti-social. There have been a number of recent studies that highlight the relationship between parental affection and children's happiness and success.


What is detachment parenting?

“Detachment parenting” is quite the opposite—putting the child down to sleep in his or her own crib while awake, letting them fall asleep on their own.

What is apathetic parenting?

Act emotionally distant from their children. Limit interactions with their children because they're too overwhelmed by their own problems. Provide little or no supervision. Set few or no expectations or demands for behavior. Show little warmth, love, and affection towards their children.

What is a unicorn mom?

Urban Dictionary, the online home for slang words and phrases, defines unicorn mom as: "a mother who's not perfect, enjoys alcohol, has a sense of humor and couldn't care less what you think."


What is a lazy mother?

LAZY MOM is a collaboration by New York-based artists Josie Keefe and Phyllis Ma. Based on an imaginary mother who, instead of preparing meals for her family, spends her time arranging groceries obsessive-compulsively. The project explores the simplicity and complexity of modern food.

What is a dragon mom?

Dragon mothers are mothers who grieve for children who have died or are terminally ill.

What is an emotionally unsupportive parent?

Signs Of Emotionally Unavailable Parents

They don't listen to you. They don't ask about your life. They don't validate/celebrate your achievements. They aren't willing to engage in activities with you. They never give compliments.


What are the signs of an emotionally unavailable mother?

15 Signs of Emotionally Unavailable Parents
  • They Don't Listen. ...
  • They Unable To Sustain Emotional Bonds. ...
  • They Don't Ask Questions About Your Life. ...
  • They're Uninterested in Your Achievements. ...
  • They Don't Validate Your Hard Work. ...
  • They Aren't Engaged in Your Activities. ...
  • They Don't Make You Feel Important. ...
  • They Don't Say “I Love You”


What is absent dad syndrome?

Researchers have found that children consistently report feeling abandoned when their fathers are not involved in their lives. Father-absent children are consistently overrepresented in a wide range of mental health problems.