The Week that Was - Emotional Withdrawal and Children

So, yeah.  This past week really sucked.  After the anniversary, I disappeared inside myself.  I knew it was happening and felt powerless to stop it.  But I am back and I return bearing a warning.  Adults can handle emotional withdrawal - children can't.  They think they did something wrong.  Something so horrible that you are ignoring them.  It is an easy road from guilt to hatred and resentment for a parent who is never accessible to you.  Your child is informed on what it means to be a good husband and father by your actions.  A male child will have that example.  A female child will have that expectation.

As much as I am aware of this, I still fall victim to emotional withdrawal.  I hate myself every day for it.  That, of course, just makes it harder to get over and prolongs the agony.  I see the confusion in my daughter's face and I see her withdrawing from me more and more...exactly what I worked so hard to overcome before.  This has to stop.  I am going to address this issue in CPT this Wednesday.  Maybe the doc and the others in group will have some advice, for I am at a loss.