Parental Care and A way forward.

    

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Parental Care and the Way Forward to Be Emotionally Strong

Parental care is one of the most profound forces in shaping who we are as individuals. From our earliest days, the care and attention we receive—or don’t receive—from our parents lays the foundation for how we view ourselves, others, and the world around us. It influences our confidence, emotional resilience, and ability to form healthy relationships. Reflecting on parental care invites us to consider not only the love and support we received growing up, but also how we can move forward with strength, especially when those early relationships were complicated or lacking.

Parental care goes beyond providing food, shelter, and clothing. At its heart, it is about emotional presence—listening, comforting, guiding, and creating a safe space for a child to express themselves. A parent who nurtures with empathy and consistency teaches their child that they are worthy of love and respect. This gives the child a stable emotional core. On the other hand, when parental care is absent, inconsistent, or overly critical, it can leave behind wounds—feelings of inadequacy, fear of abandonment, or an internalized sense of not being “enough.”

Many of us reach adulthood still carrying emotional baggage from our childhood. We may struggle with self-doubt, find it hard to trust others, or avoid vulnerability because it was never safe to be open. Some of us were raised in homes where emotions were silenced, love was conditional, or caregivers were overwhelmed with their own unresolved pain. While these experiences are real and valid, they do not have to define us forever.

The way forward begins with awareness. Emotional strength does not come from pretending everything is fine or pushing our feelings aside. True strength begins when we stop running from our emotions and start acknowledging them with honesty and compassion. This often means revisiting the past—not to dwell on it, but to understand it. When we name the ways in which we were hurt, neglected, or misunderstood, we can begin to heal those inner wounds.

Self-reflection is a powerful tool. By asking ourselves honest questions—“What did I need as a child that I didn’t receive?” or “What beliefs about myself came from my upbringing?”—we start to unravel the narrative we’ve been living. Journaling, therapy, or open conversations with trusted friends can help in this process. Sometimes, forgiving our parents is part of this journey. Not because what happened was okay, but because holding on to resentment keeps us stuck. Forgiveness allows us to reclaim our emotional freedom.

Building emotional strength also means developing healthy self-care habits. This involves setting boundaries, speaking kindly to ourselves, and giving ourselves permission to rest, feel, and grow. It means being patient with our process and acknowledging that healing is not linear. Some days we may feel strong and confident; other days we may feel fragile and uncertain. That’s okay. Strength is not the absence of struggle—it’s the ability to keep showing up, even when it’s hard.

Another key part of emotional growth is learning to parent ourselves. If we didn’t get the care we needed growing up, we can now give it to ourselves. We can speak to our inner child with kindness, validate our feelings, and nurture our own growth. This may feel awkward at first, but over time it creates a deep sense of inner safety. We learn that we are capable of meeting our own emotional needs.

It’s also important to seek connection. Emotional strength doesn’t mean being independent to the point of isolation. We all need support. Finding people who respect and understand us—whether through friendships, community, or therapy—helps reinforce the message that we are not alone. Vulnerability, when shared with the right people, becomes a bridge to deeper relationships and healing.

For those who are now parents themselves, the cycle can be transformed. We don’t have to repeat the patterns we were raised with. We can offer our children the empathy, presence, and emotional support we may have lacked. This doesn't require perfection—just a willingness to be present, to listen, and to grow alongside them. In doing so, we not only nurture our children but also continue to heal ourselves.

In the end, parental care—whether we received it fully or not—is only part of the story. The rest is ours to write. Emotional strength comes from choosing to face the truth with courage, to heal with compassion, and to move forward with hope. Each step we take to understand ourselves better is a step toward freedom. And in that freedom, we find the power to care for ourselves, support others, and live with deeper purpose.