Sometimes we hate our kids because our expectations are too high. Embracing "good enough" parenting can relieve the pressure that fuels resentment.

When your life feels entirely consumed by a child’s needs—leaving no room for your own career or hobbies—it’s easy to view that child as the obstacle to your happiness.

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

Resentment rarely appears in a vacuum. It is usually the result of a "perfect storm" of factors:

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 can hate the constant screaming, the lying, or the disrespect without hating the human being behind it.

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.