The Shadow Parent — Their Pain Casts a Long Shadow
Every child grows up believing their parents are the light — until one day they realize the light they followed came with shadows.
The “perfect parent” image was a mask, held together by unhealed wounds, fear, and control. They didn’t mean to break you — but sometimes they did, with silence, absence, or the refusal to see you as separate from their reflection.
It’s painful to admit that love and harm can coexist in the same person. Some parents never got the tools to process their trauma, so they passed it down disguised as discipline, tradition, or “just how we were raised.” Recognizing the shadow isn’t betrayal — it’s enlightenment. Naming the wound honors the truth that sets everyone free.
Healing starts when you stop trying to save the version of them that never existed. You can love them and still choose peace.
You can grieve what you didn’t get and still move forward without guilt. Forgiveness doesn’t require access — it asks for release.
You are the bridge between what was and what will be. Let their shadow end where your self-awareness begins.
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