My brother in law said I was being too emotional about the divorce - turns out he was totally wrong

So my BIL Mark pulled me aside at Thanksgiving and told me I needed to stop crying in front of my kids because it would mess them up. He said kids need a stoic dad who acts like everything is fine. I listened to him for like 3 months and practically turned into a robot around my 8 year old daughter. She started getting really quiet and distant with me. Last week her teacher called and said she drew a picture of me with a square head and no mouth. I finally broke down and talked to a counselor who said kids actually need to see appropriate emotion from parents. So I started letting myself cry a little when we talk about mom moving out and she hugged me so hard. Now my daughter talks to me again. Has anyone else had someone give them terrible emotional advice during their divorce?

2 comments

2 Comments

david_reed2211d ago

That bit about your daughter drawing you with no mouth really got me. Were you just staying totally silent around her too, or only holding back the crying?

thomasgonzalez11d ago

Oh man, that's just awful. My own brother told me the same thing and I tried it for a few weeks with my son before a school counselor set me straight too.