The Pain of Feeling Rejected by Your Child and What It Really Means

Author

Michelle Lim
July 14, 2025

Hello MindFull Readers,

Have you ever experienced that moment when your child says, “I don’t want you!” or “Go away!”

Or maybe it’s more subtle and it shows in the way they pull their body away from yours, or how they turn cold when you lean in.

It’s happened to me too.

With each of my children, and during different seasons of their lives. And I’ll be honest, it really stings the heart. 💔

Because when we hear those words or see those behaviours, it can awaken something painful in us. The part of us that still remembers what it felt like to be rejected.

To feel unwanted.

To be told, in words or silence: You’re too much. You’re not enough.

In these moments, we’re often standing at a quiet crossroads:

  1. We can take their behaviour personally and try to control it usually by reprimanding, withdrawing, or shutting down.

  2. Or… we can pause, ground ourselves, and reframe what’s happening. We can see their rejection not as disrespect, but as a signal: I need space. I don’t feel safe. I’m overwhelmed. I’m still learning how to come back to connection.

Every response leads to a different set of outcomes.

When we choose to see their behaviour through the lens of emotional safety, we start to heal not just the rupture in the moment, but the wounded parts of ourselves too.

So if your child has ever pushed you away and it hurt more than you’d like to admit, please know this:

You are not alone. 🩵

You are not a bad parent. 🩵

And this, too, is part of the healing path for both of you. 🩵

With warmth and mindfulness,

Michelle Lim | Reparenting Coach

I help you break free from generational trauma and nurture a new cycle of emotional safety — by reparenting your inner child.

P.S. Ready to explore whether reparenting coaching is right for you?

Book a free 30-minute Healing & Growth Call — no pressure, just a heart-to-heart:

👉 Schedule here 🩵

Michelle Lim | Mother of 3 | Multi-Coach | Founder of The MindFull Parent | Writer | Preschool Educator | Babywearing Specialist | Breastfeeding Mentor

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