I am inquiring as to whether I am strawberry.
It is notable that there is still a prevalence of suppressive parenting in many families. These parents adhere to the belief that only through suppressive parenting can their children explore their life paths with greater courage and gain a more promising future.
In specific situations, it causes the emergence of long-standing issues.
The Spring Festival is a day of reunion and a time of hope for people who are away from home. Such a festival should be lively and happy, but for the questioner, this Spring Festival was a painful experience. This was due to the fact that psychological "wounds" that he had hidden away were revealed one after the other.
The questioner sustained an injury to his nose as a result of an itch. Upon observing the wound, his father's response was one of indifference. This prompted the questioner to reflect on his own upbringing and perceived his father's demeanor to be one of self-disapproval. Now facing his own injury, the questioner's initial reaction was one of apathy.
From the questioner's perspective, his father's preference for his aunt was influenced by her physical appearance and personality. Despite her apparent engagement in casual conversation, the questioner observed that his father's interactions with her were more frequent and more attentive than those with him.
The impact of inappropriate interpersonal dynamics
In addition to the neglect by his father, the questioner also experienced a lack of attention from his aunt. Despite having lived with relatives since childhood, the aunt was unaware of the questioner's age but was aware of her sister's age. While these circumstances may appear inconsequential, they significantly impacted the questioner's perception of favoritism among adults.
The questioner was raised in the company of relatives. The reason for this arrangement is unclear, but it is evident that the parents in question were derelict in their duties. The questioner lacked intimacy due to having little contact with his father, despite the fact that they are related by blood. The questioner had more frequent contact with his aunt, but he was unable to form a close relationship with her due to her tendency to negatively compare him to his younger self and comment on his appearance.
I empathize with the emotional distress and feelings of inadequacy experienced by the questioner. During the developmental period, due to the lack of affection, I craved it. Relatives and elders in the family favored the children of the uncle and aunt, and treated my family with indifference. I believed that if I were to please them, I would receive the same treatment, but in reality, I was met with similar criticism and became the supporting figure for others.
Select the lifestyle that aligns with your personal goals and aspirations.
It is not within our power to alter the actions or statements of adults who have erred. However, we do have the option of selecting our attitude and conveying it.
It is important to distinguish between the issues at hand. Adults are aware of the impact and harm their actions and words can have on others, yet they have never reflected on it, let alone considered our feelings. This is a mistake on their part, and the mistakes they have made do not need to be borne by us.
It is important to distinguish between issues and responsibilities. Adults may evade their responsibilities and the issues in their lives, and interact with us in a way that is inappropriate and ineffective. They may be irresponsible and neglectful, and unwilling to change themselves. It is helpful to give them back their issues, and not be easily influenced by them.
It is important to be clear about your attitude when dealing with relatives who exert pressure and belittle you. I have found that it is helpful to give them an opportunity to understand the impact and harm they have caused. However, it is essential to recognize that their actions may be driven by expectations that are not aligned with reality. If they are willing to reflect on their behavior, it is less likely that they will cause us harm.
It is important to be clear in your attitude and to limit contact with such relatives. It is not that we do not want to engage with them; it is that their hurtful behavior causes us to withdraw. Regardless of the nature of the relationship, it requires mutual effort. Therefore, in maintaining these relationships, it is not that the questioner is not proactive enough, but it is challenging to maintain them unilaterally.
Healing Yourself: From the questioner's words, I understand that during their growth process, they lacked care and love. They still have expectations when they grow up because we always believe that they will change with time.
If an individual is unaware of their own shortcomings and lacks the motivation and ability to change, they will likely remain in a state of stagnation. The probability of receiving the love and care they lacked during their own development from them is low.
As an alternative to waiting for them to provide what you need, it would be more beneficial to focus on meeting your own needs. This could include learning to be the ideal, qualified parent in your heart, learning to love and care for yourself, slowly healing your wounded heart, and strengthening your mind.
I hope this response is helpful to the questioner. Best regards.
Comments
These New Year's Eves have been tough on me, stirring up a whirlwind of heartache. Recently, I had a nosebleed from scratching an itch too hard, and it just wouldn't stop bleeding. My dad barely acknowledged it; he's always favored my cousin over me. She's the type everyone adores—beautiful and sweet. Meanwhile, when he talks about my sister, he focuses on her wearing colored contacts due to eye issues. Growing up with relatives, especially living with my aunt for years, has left me feeling overlooked. My aunt knows everything about my sister but can't even remember my age. She once told me I'm not as pretty now as I was as a child, which really hurt.
It's during these nights before the New Year that my heart feels heavy with pain. I've got this ongoing issue with my nose bleeding because of a scratch, and Dad doesn't seem to care much. He's always preferred my cousin, who is admired for her beauty and personality. When he does mention my sister, it's about her eyes and the colored lenses she wears. Living with my aunt for so long, I've realized how little attention I get compared to my sister. Even something as simple as my age seems to escape her notice, and she's pointed out that I'm less attractive now than I used to be, making me feel quite disheartened.
New Year's Eve brings out all these old wounds in me. Just the other day, I scratched my nose and caused it to bleed, and it hasn't healed properly since. My father has never hidden his preference for my cousin, who everyone finds lovely and wellmannered. Whenever he mentions my sister, it's always about her wearing colored contacts for her eyes. Raised among family, spending a lot of time with my aunt, I've often felt neglected. She didn't know my age, yet she knew every detail about my sister. And then she made a comment about how I don't look as good as I did when I was younger, leaving me feeling very sad and at a loss for words.