My teenage son reminds me of my abusive father in his build and mannerisms and I know it's not fair but I find myself afraid of him even though he's never been violent.
More people experience this than they realize.
A parent's trauma responses are activated by their child's innocent physical similarities to their abuser, creating distance in the relationship.
“Where Are You with Trauma-informed parenting?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.