My parents taught me, in a back-handed way, how NOT to raise children. Realizing they were no more than horribly wounded children, themselves, helps me to forgive them for externalizing their problems - making their children responsible for their pain.
Growing up with my parents' pain, inadequacies and compensations, has taught me to look inward for solutions to my own problems. It serves as a constant reminder that I've never walked one step in other people's shoes, and to look at my own issues when I have reactions to other people's behaviors.
It's probably the most valuable lesson I could have learned.
@PhoenixPhail thank you for sharing, yes very valuable lessons you received there and most importantly to not perpetuate the cycle...sad how you had to learn it that way, but sometimes life has its unique way of shaping us..
