I'm Tired of Parenting My Mom: Where Should We Begin? With Esther Perel
Mothering My Mother Into Mothering Me | Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
On this week's episode of Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel: Since the age of 8, she’s been the one holding her mother together and shouldering adult responsibilities long before her time. Now, as an adult herself, she’s ready to step out of the caretaker role and invite her mother to finally be the parent. Esther helps her explore how to loosen these deeply entrenched dynamics and create space for a more balanced, reciprocal relationship.
Chapters
00:00 What Happens When a Child Becomes the Caregiver?
00:35 Why Does This Mother-Daughter Bond Feel So Complicated?
01:39 How Does Carrying Adult Responsibilities Shape a Child?
03:40 What Happens When Love Turns Into Resentment and Guilt?
05:10 What Do Family Dynamics Reveal Beneath the Surface?
07:17 How Do You Care for Others Without Losing Yourself?
08:59 Why Does Setting Boundaries Feel So Hard?
22:25 How Does Grief and Isolation Shape a Family Story?
25:03 What Does Anger Can Teach Us About Control?
26:02 Why is Expressing Anger So Different Across Cultures?
26:47 How Do Cultural Expectations Shape Family Roles?
30:37 How Do Small Acts Become Statements of Identity?
32:38 What Happens When Generations Collide?
35:04 How Does Better Communication Shift the Relationship?
42:59 What Do Patterns Reveal About the Path Forward?
About Where Should We Begin?:
Every Monday morning, step into the office of iconic psychotherapist Esther Perel and listen in as real people in search of insight bare the raw, intimate, and profound details of their stories. From breakups and open relationships to workplace conflicts and fractures in the family, it’s a place to hear our own stories reflected in the lives of others.
About Esther Perel:
Psychotherapist, relationship expert, and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her celebrated TED Talks have garnered more than 40 million views and her bestselling books, Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, are global phenomena translated into more than 30 languages. Esther is also the host of the hit podcast Where Should We Begin? which is available on Apple Podcasts. Learn more at EstherPerel.com(https://bit.ly/45I3yPd), join my Substack community Entre Nous for bonus content (https://bit.ly/4kdcWQZ), or follow @EstherPerelOfficial on Instagram.