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Twistedxkiss-
If I read your post correctly, it sounds like you parents are either divorced or estranged. I am sorry to hear that. If they are not close to each other, you perhaps haven’t had the opportunity to see/experience a healthy expression of emotion, and additionally, it sounds like you may have been in situations where you were parenting your mother, rather than vice versa. These role reversals are difficult, and it shouldn’t be the responsibility of the child to take care of the emotional needs of the parent(s). I agree with this. But when parents express a normal feeling of mixed emotions (sadness and joy) at move-in day, not having a complete meltdown and expecting their child to pick up the pieces, this isn’t unhealthy and isn’t about the parent, IMO. It is an acknowledgement of the transition, the passage that is occurring. Agree that a long drawn out emotional tirade is inappropriate and embarassing, but that isnt , IMO, what smilodon was describing in his original post. He sounded like he had bigger issues with his mother, which I genuinely hope he has the opportunity to work through successfully.</p>
<p>I think we are all really saying the same thing. Packing for college and move-in day are significant transition times. and are understandibly frought with pangs of emotions on both the part of the parent and child. BUt it isn’t the childs responsibility to take care of the needs of the parent. and if this is what is going on at move-in time, its probably been going on for a lot longer than that. JMO, FWIW.</p>