My teenage daughter and I used to be close but since her dad and I divorced, she's been angry and distant with me specifically, and I think she's protecting him by making me the target. We're both hurting but can't seem to find our way back to each other.
More people experience this than they realize.
A parent and child who love each other are caught in a dynamic where one person absorbs the pain to protect someone else.
“Where Are You with Interracial and Cross-Cultural Partnerships?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.