Messed & Missed

Dear Dr. Pepper,

I think I messed up my child’s childhood and that is why they won’t talk to me now. I don’t know what to do. Any advice?

Messed & Missed

Dear M & M,

Huge issue for many moms. I am unsure what you did but that was then, and this is now. What can you do now? I highly recommend therapy for you. You need to process your immediate losses, understand your past behaviors, and develop a plan for offering your best self. While you are waiting for your therapy appointment, start journaling. Describe the better life you wish to live and the better self you wish to offer your child.

Be prepared to hear some possibly uncomfortable truths when you have the tough conversation in the future with your child. Therapy will help with this both before and afterwards. The concept of asking forgiveness is important. Forgiveness is nothing without a plan to change. Thus, you are bravely doing self-reflection, reviewing the past for increased understanding, designing changes, asking for forgiveness and establishing new behaviors! I am so proud of you. This is a fantastic goal!

Wishing you much success! Would love to hear how you are doing!

Pepper