My ex-wife has borderline personality disorder and alienated my kids from me for two years and now I have them back but my 14-year-old tests every boundary like she's waiting for me to abandon her again.
More people experience this than they realize.
A child's defensive behaviors reflect their learned expectation of abandonment, making genuine reconnection challenging despite changed circumstances.
“Where Are You with Trauma-informed parenting?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.