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You are not alone in this struggle. Admitting you're struggling to "like" your son is the first step toward finding a path back to a relationship where love—and eventually, like—can flourish again.

If you are feeling this, you likely feel like a monster. You look at other parents on social media who seem to bask in the glow of every milestone and you wonder what is broken inside of you. But the truth is more nuanced: feeling "hate" or intense resentment toward your son doesn’t mean you aren't a good parent. It often means you are an overwhelmed one. i-hate-my-son

According to experts at Understood.org , these feelings are actually far more universal than we admit. Parenting is one of the only "jobs" where you are expected to provide 24/7 emotional and physical labor regardless of how you are being treated in return. When a child is consistently defiant, disrespectful, or aggressive—especially in cases of Parenting ADHD —it is human nature to feel a "fight or flight" response. Why Does This Happen? You are not alone in this struggle

Is your son's behavior related to a specific (toddler, teen, etc.) or a specific diagnosis like ADHD or ODD? Knowing this could help me provide more targeted resources or parenting strategies . I Love My Kids, But I Don't Like Parenting You look at other parents on social media

The first step toward healing is radical honesty. You cannot fix a relationship if you are still pretending the fracture doesn't exist.

Sometimes we see our own worst traits reflected in our children, which triggers a defensive, negative reaction.

Research suggests focusing on three key moments: the first 3 minutes after waking, the 3 minutes after school, and the last 3 minutes before bed. Focusing on these small windows can help rebuild a sense of connection without feeling overwhelming.