Sometimes we push people who are dear to us to be completely honest with us, without ever realizing what complete honesty actually entails. We tell ourselves that we want to know what is bothering them and that we need to fix it, but we do not prepare ourselves for the possibility that we are responsible for some of their problems. Then, after we practically force our loved ones to confess their true feelings, instead of viewing it as a reality check for ourselves, we accuse them of being insensitive or even tell them they are wrong.

With parents, these kinds of interactions happen far too often. Parents hate being criticized by their kids, they hate being told what they are doing wrong, even though they are the ones who push their kids to admit those feelings to them. So then we have a vulnerable kid who only tried to be honest with their parents, and parents whose ego has been hurt, but refuse to do anything to fix the broken situation with their kids.