There is a strange thing that can happen to a woman somewhere in her 40s. She begins to lose her tolerance for bullshit. Things she once swallowed become harder to swallow. Relationships she maintained out of obligation begin to feel exhausting. Roles she performed effortlessly, or at least convincingly, for decades suddenly feel suffocating. She may become more protective of her time, more aware of where her energy is going, more sensitive to noise, demands and ex

When people think about dysfunctional families, they often focus on the obvious source of harm—the controlling parent, the narcissist, the addict, the abuser, or the person whose behaviour creates chaos within the family system. But there is another role that often goes unnoticed. The parent who sees what is happening. The parent who knows. The parent who says nothing. The parent who makes excuses. The parent who asks everyone else to keep the peace. The Enabling Parent.

"A child should never have to earn the love that helps them grow." Before we begin, it is important to understand that not every difficult, selfish, emotionally immature, or controlling parent is narcissistic. All parents make mistakes. All parents have wounds. All parents have moments when they prioritize their own needs. This article is not about imperfection. It is about a pattern. A pattern where a parent's needs, image, emotions, validation, and control consist