As discussed Monday, children raised in emotionally empty homes grow up with three rules: Don’t talk Don’t trust Don’t Feel. It is also true, as mentioned by Lisa Hall Wilson, that living by these rules can be caused by bullying outside the home.  What are the ramifications of loving someone who lives by these rules? How do relationships fare when burdened by these rules? As usual, I’m going to discuss the far end of the spectrum of...

Parents are emotionally unavailable because of an issue in their life which the spouse wants resolved.  For example, a mother works full time plus.  She is successful in her job but works nienty hours a week.  Everyone wants to see more of Mom.  If she’d just work less, everything would be better. A parent may be mentally ill and unable to provide the emotional nurturing and caring needed by the children. If the other parent does not...