Afton Turner

Understanding that your parent may be emotionally immature can explain a lot. It can help make sense of why certain conversations always end the same way, why they become defensive when you talk about your experience, or why you keep leaving interactions feeling unheard. But then comes the harder question: what do you actually do with that information? Understanding your parent does not automatically change them or the relationship. It does not guarantee an apology, make difficult...

Co-parenting after a separation is going to look different than parenting under one roof. Different does not automatically mean worse. Your child can have two homes, different routines, and parents who do not always agree and still feel safe and supported. What matters is that they know what to expect from the adults caring for them and that as much of the adult conflict as possible stays with the adults. So if you’ve found yourself asking, “How do I co-parent with a difficult ex?” I want to...

There is a lot of information online about parent-child relationships and what you should do, but there is no one guidebook that fits every family. Your relationship is shaped by the patterns that already exist, whether there has been abuse or neglect, how much time you spend together, your own capacity for the dynamic, whether you are creating a family of your own, and so many other things. If you've found yourself asking, “Why do my parents still treat me like a child?” you are probably...