“Compared to other parents, remarried parents seem more desirous of their child's approval, more alert to the child's emotional state, and more sensitive in their parent-child relations. Perhaps this is the result of heightened empathy for the child's suffering, perhaps it is a guilt reaction; in either case, it gives the child a potent weapon--the power to disrupt the new household and come between parent and the new spouse.” GivingChildrenStatesSeemsSufferingParentResultsCasesEmotionalWeaponsEmpathyRelationGuiltReactionsSensitiveApprovalHouseholdSpouseParent ChildRemarriage Book:Family politics: love and power on an intimate frontier Source: Family politics: love and power on an intimate frontier
“The attempt to be an ideal parent, that is, to behave correctly toward the child, to raise her correctly, not to give to little ortoo much, is in essence an attempt to be the ideal child--well behaved and dutiful--of one's own parents. But as a result of these efforts the needs of the child go unnoticed. I cannot listen to my child with empathy if I am inwardly preoccupied with being a good mother; I cannot be open to what she is telling me.” IfsNeedsGivingWellsChildrenLittlesMotherParentResultsEffortEmpathyIdealsEssenceRaisesMy ChildrenBehaveUnnoticedGood MotherBeing A Good Mother Author:Alice Miller