goathornsandblackwool:

I will never forget the moment my abusive father used the “I turned out fine!” to defend his upbringing.

Anyone who wants kids, I want you to spend real time every day preparing yourself for what you’ll do when your child backtalks. When your child points out something you hoped they were too naive to notice. When your child is completely aware of your insecurity and fallability. When your child may exceed your capabilities academically. When your child is not just hurt but angry with you. When your child won’t take ‘no’ for a sufficient answer. When you must explain yourself to a child.

When the authority you imagined you had over them begins to waver, and they become someone so different than the fantasy you had of them before they were born.

That is going to matter the most. What will you do?