Chapter 15 Summary and Analysis

Parents often unconsciously foist a role on each child, at times in an attempt to make the child fulfill the parent's own lost or failed dream. If it is not a good fit with the child's personality, this can be disastrous. Only when we make an emotional break from our parents can we truly find ourselves, but it is often a frightening process because we may secretly fear the loss of our parents' trust and approval. In our thirties, we begin to see our parents in ourselves and perhaps become more tolerant and less judgmental of them. Being a parent can help us heal ourselves from some of our childhood perceptions and begin to forgive our parents. Grandparents often become their best selves in that role since they are not responsible for the lives of their grandchildren and it is easier...