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It is the industry’s best-kept secret. We talk about the sleepless nights, the "terrible twos," and the financial strain of raising children, but we almost never talk about the deep, gut-wrenching moments when we look at our own child and think, "I just don’t like you right now." For some, that feeling is even sharper, more visceral—it feels like hate.

When your life feels entirely consumed by a child’s needs—leaving no room for your own career or hobbies—it’s easy to view that child as the obstacle to your happiness. i-hate-my-son

The first step toward healing is radical honesty. You cannot fix a relationship if you are still pretending the fracture doesn't exist. It is the industry’s best-kept secret

When the Love is There, but the Like is Not: Navigating the Taboo of Parental Resentment The first step toward healing is radical honesty

You are not alone in this struggle. Admitting you're struggling to "like" your son is the first step toward finding a path back to a relationship where love—and eventually, like—can flourish again.

According to experts at Understood.org , these feelings are actually far more universal than we admit. Parenting is one of the only "jobs" where you are expected to provide 24/7 emotional and physical labor regardless of how you are being treated in return. When a child is consistently defiant, disrespectful, or aggressive—especially in cases of Parenting ADHD —it is human nature to feel a "fight or flight" response. Why Does This Happen?

There is no shame in reaching out to a therapist. Many parents find that individual therapy helps them process their resentment, while family therapy can provide new strategies for managing a son's behavior.