Feeling Unloved By a Parent

Written by: Charli S. (24 years old)

---

It all started when I was just a little girl. My main focus in life should have been going to school, hanging out with my friends, playing outside…experiencing a bright and happy childhood. Instead, I had to deal with the trauma that my father put my family and I through. They say when a child goes through a divorce, they lose a relationship with one of their parents and that was definitely true for me. I not only lost the relationship I had with my father because of the way he treated my mom, but the fact that he made the choice to drag his children through it all as well. Now, years and years later at almost 25 years old, the whole situation still holds weight on my shoulders. Feeling unloved by a parent has caused an immense amount of pain. I still constantly wonder if he understands the trauma that he created. It makes me contemplate what love should truly look like. It makes me think back to my younger self and what I could have done to make it all better. I was only a little girl. 15 years later and I still think about these things every single day.