My T and I go back and forth all of the time about the subject of me parenting myself . She INSISTS that I have to learn to mother myself in order to heal. My response has always been "I've already done it once, it's somebody elses turn." She tells me over and over again that I have to be the one to do it, and that no one can do it for me. While I understand that perfectly well, and believe it, I still find myself frustrated.

See, from the age of... seven or eight, I pretty much took care of myself AND my mother. She "needed" me for a lot- I often comforted her and was the fill-in husband when my dad was at work (which he always was). I learned to be responsible REALLY quickly, and to not need my mom for anything. Because of all of that, I feel like I have already mothered myself once. And the notion that I have to do it again pisses me off. I tell myself, "if you would have done it right the first time, you wouldn't have to do it again," but I know that isn't right either.

I guess I am just wondering if anyone else has had similar feelings about this.

-CT