Studies show that growing up in a safe home under the care of one or more loving and engaged guardians is ideal. But TV and reality are often leagues apart, and in the real world, many children must contend with emotionally distant parents.
What is an emotionally available parent?
Parents who are emotionally unavailable do not meet their children’s psychological needs and cannot provide the comfort and validation required for proper mental health development.
We have provided a few signs of absent parent courtesy of PsychologyToday:
1. They do not listen
Detached parents frequently neglect their children. They are either distracted or completely withdrawn. This lack of validation can leave you feeling unloved, unwanted, and a little befuddled.
2. They pay little to no attention to your achievements
You get a good grade on a difficult test, but your parents do not commend you. They barely respond when you tell them. You might get a grunt and a shrug if you’re lucky.
This type of behavior indicates emotional detachment. They could at the very least mumble “good job,” but they don’t. Try not to internalize their disinterest once more. It is their issue, not yours.
3. They aren’t engaged in your extra curricular activities or hobbies
Not every parent is required to coach the soccer team or be active in the SGB. Many compassionate, less competitive ones, in fact, are not! However, if they never appear at any of your events, this is a red flag.
4. They don’t say “I love you”
“I love you” may be just a phrase, but when it comes from your parents, it means so much more. Their love is the bedrock of your self-esteem. Refusing to say it is almost cruel.
