I started this blog soon after the death of my beautiful 17-year-old son, Hayden, as a way to deal with my grief. I titled it "Dear Hayden" because at first I wrote as if I was writing to him. My use of the word "dear" ended up being twofold: "used as an affectionate or friendly form of address" and "regarded with deep affection; cherished by someone." Many posts are saved quotes, song lyrics, Bible verses, poems, etc. with credit given to the actual authors as much as possible. Enjoy~
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Irreplaceable
Know them
Beg
- Love
- Attention
- Affection
- Support
- Reciprocation, etc.
Can't love you
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Effect
Posted by BookPlug
- Understand the "Absent Father" Concept: Absence doesn't only mean physical absence; emotional unavailability or neglect also leaves deep emotional scars. This book shows how daughters of such fathers often feel unseen or misunderstood.
- Impact on Self-Worth: Many daughters with absent fathers struggle with self-esteem and self-worth. Recognizing this impact is the first step to healing, as it allows one to understand the roots of self-doubt.
- Seeking Validation: Daughters of absent fathers often seek validation from others, particularly in relationships. Schwartz encourages recognizing this tendency and finding ways to build internal validation instead.
- Trust and Attachment Issues: A lack of secure father-daughter relationship can lead to issues with trust and attachment in adult relationships. Understanding this helps women work on building healthy attachment styles.
- Self-Compassion as a Healing Tool: Developing self-compassion is crucial for daughters of absent fathers. It enables them to replace self-criticism with understanding and begin to heal from unmet needs.
- Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Avoidance: Daughters often internalize emotional avoidance patterns. Consciously choosing vulnerability and openness can break this cycle and lead to more fulfilling relationships.
- Recognize Unrealistic Expectations in Relationships: Some women expect partners to fulfill the emotional void left by their fathers. Schwartz encourages women to set realistic expectations and find fulfillment within themselves.
- Healing Through Inner Work: Therapy, journaling, and self-reflection are essential for processing feelings of abandonment or rejection. This inner work allows daughters to reframe their experiences and heal.
- Embracing the Power of Female Role Models: Schwartz suggests finding strong female role models or mentors to help daughters or absent fathers develop resilience, self-worth, and a sense of identity.
- Reclaiming Personal Identity: The absence of a father can lead to identity struggles, but embracing personal interests, passions, and strengths helps build a strong, independent identity free from past trauma.
Red flag
Hold on
Posted by Brenda Fernandez
May you get married to a man who will love you more than you love him.
My mother once told me:
Not doing anything
Posted by Larissa Rissy Roo
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Rediscover
Faithful
Love them
Posted by Jecris Suriben
Overshare
Posted by Flying Free Now
- We feel we have to justify and defend who we are - our thoughts, our life, our choices, our feelings.
- We believe we are inherently unlikeable and we are trying to prove that we are really ok.
- We feel constantly misunderstood or that we cannot explain ourselves properly (due to gaslighting) so we overcompensate
- We believe when people get to know us they will reject us so we may as well get the inevitable out of the way.
Winter
Shared by Jenny Rhine from Serendipity Corner
Don't deserve
Posted by Alan Sinnott
Yourself
Bare minimum
From The Bat Wolf
Affect
Return with water
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Good rule
#1 RULE: