How well do you understand your parents?

How Well Do You Understand Your Parents? Lately, I have been living at a slower pace, deeply reflecting on everything that has happened and connecting it with emotions, and I have come to realize that human emotions are the most fragile and yet the most powerful. We are all susceptible to being hurt by the words and actions of others, as well as by loss and disappointment, and this is entirely normal because we are all human beings. Those who are easily hurt will let that pain gnaw at their bodies, bit by bit, and hold onto it endlessly. It will leave inner scars, no matter how strong they may appear on the outside. If they are lucky enough to control it, it will not spread. Emotions are also the most powerful, and those who have endured a lot of pain become stronger because they have experienced a wide range of emotions and know how to control them. However, I sense that deep within their hearts, there are many hidden scars and lingering pain that they carefully conceal. Someone who appears strong on the outside does not necessarily mean they are strong on the inside, as is often the case with our parents. They seem very strong on the outside to shield and support the family, but how many truly understand their darkest inner struggles? Our parents were once children who never had the chance to fully grow up and had to mature quickly due to the demands and pressures of life. They were born in a time when they had to worry about how to feed themselves through the aftermath of war, leaving no time to tend to healing their inner child. They did not even consider how psychological wounds would affect them. They grew up with inner pain that they themselves did not recognize. We may see how extraordinary our parents are, accepting one pain after another without anyone coming to help them heal. They had to face another unstable life within their marriages before they could heal. No one told them what to do in a marriage or how to raise children. At that time, if they were lucky, they had their parents, and if not, they were separated during the war. At that time, there was no one to teach them if not their own parents. So, they carried that pain for decades. It did not vanish and remained a significant wound inside them, but they became accustomed to it. They seemed very successful and strong in concealing their weaknesses until someone came to soothe their pain, and only then did they realize there was still a lingering pain inside when touched. Living with that pain for a long time surely cannot lead to happiness, and it undoubtedly greatly affects their personalities. So today, we often blame: "Why don't our parents understand us?"

We often blame our parents for not understanding us, but how can they understand us fully when they themselves have unresolved pain and unhealed wounds? It is a cycle that has been passed down from generation to generation, and it is time for us to break this cycle and strive for a better understanding. Growing up, we may have felt misunderstood by our parents. We yearned for them to understand our dreams, aspirations, and struggles. But the truth is, they were carrying their own burdens and pain from their own experiences.

Our parents grew up in a different time, facing circumstances that shaped them in ways we may never fully comprehend. They may have had limited resources, opportunities, or guidance in navigating life's challenges. And yet, they did their best to provide for us and protect us from the hardships they themselves endured.

Instead of blaming our parents for not understanding us, let's try to empathize with their experiences. Let's acknowledge the pain they may have carried for years and the sacrifices they made for our sake. By understanding their journey, we can start to break the cycle of misunderstanding and build a better relationship with them.

One way to foster understanding is through open and honest communication. Let's initiate conversations with our parents, expressing our desires, dreams, and struggles. Share with them our journey and the challenges we face. This will not only help them understand us better, but it will also create an opportunity for them to share their own experiences and wisdom.

We can also take the time to listen to their stories and experiences. By actively