Feeling Motherless & Fatherless Despite Having Parents

The Friday Edition | No. 30

Feeling Motherless & Fatherless Despite Having Parents

The emotional heartache of feeling parentless, despite the physical presence of a mother or father, is a confusing and agonizing struggle. This kind of parental absence goes far beyond physical proximity. Within this painful void, essential elements of parental connection – such as warmth, guidance, acceptance and love, and nurturing care – slip through the cracks, leaving a child yearning for a sense of belonging and understanding. This intricate and complex reality can be deeply traumatic for those living, enduring, and surviving the cognitive dissonance of the “there – but not there” family dynamic. The resulting emotional fallout creates a surreal and isolating world for a child to inhabit, where the fundamental components of support and love become elusive, fostering a sense of disconnection and vulnerability that can shape their emotional well-being for years to come.

 I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel all alone.

_Robin Williams, “Robin” by David Itzkoff