Y’all gotta stop telling these kids, “Of course your absent parent loves you,” when they straight-up don’t. Love is an action, not a concept. If they loved that child, they’d show up. They’d call. They’d do. When a kid asks, “Does my [mom/dad] love me?” and that parent has been ghost since the hospital bracelet came off, the answer is not some fairytale lie to protect their feelings. They deserve truth with care. Something like: "I know that’s a hard question, and I don’t have the answer you des

Being raised by a narcissistic parent when that parent is your only parent is like growing up in a funhouse mirror, you never get a clear reflection of who you are, only a distorted version of who they need you to be. There's no backup parent to run to for comfort or balance. You're the emotional punching bag and the praise dispenser, depending on their mood. You learn early that love is earned through performance, not presence. Your achievements are their trophies, and your struggles are your o