We parents are in the process of losing parts of ourselves, of waking up each morning to find ourselves changed by our children. We may fantasize that we are not really changed, that we can go back to poring over Wittgenstein, immersing ourselves in the latest movies, being beach bums- whatever it was that we were before the child or children came into our lives. But part of what we have lost is the part of our identity that is the person-without-children. The parent we are now has a life inextricably entwined not only without our past life and our private selves but also with the lives of our children. . Daniel Gottlieb
About This Quote

The quote above is from an article written by author and teacher, Richard Louv. He is known as the father of the modern-day nature movement. In this article he is referencing the fact that parents are now inextricably linked to their children. They have a relationship with them that is so close that they can't separate from their children.

Source: Voices In The Family: A Therapist Talks About Listening, Openness & Healing

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More Quotes By Daniel Gottlieb
  1. When we stop fighting against death, we are able to wake up to our lives.
  2. We parents are in the process of losing parts of ourselves, of waking up each morning to find ourselves changed by our children. We may fantasize that we are not really changed, that we can go back to poring over Wittgenstein, immersing ourselves in the...
  3. I think we owe it to our children to share our wisdom. If we share our wisdom for the purpose of changing our children, then that’s hitting them over the head with a hammer or shoving something down their throats. If the wisdom turns into...
  4. More often than not, it’s disrespectful to them (our children) - and disrespectful to their struggle with their tasks in life- if our own anxiety as parents makes us cling to our children. It’s disrespectful is we demand more intimacy than they are willing or...
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