The definition of ‘wilful’ is intentional, and reflects a ‘couldn’t care less attitude’. When parents do something that is wilful, they consciously make a decision. That isn't the same thing as unconsciously struggling to parent your child.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (‘CBT’) helps me to see and understand more of my experiences so that I’m looking at the bigger picture, a different angle on the angle I have. What is incredulous is that others may live their lives around us, without so much of a conscience.

Freewill

Since everything we do is down to freewill, freewill is what you have. We consciously make our choices. But like we have freewill to make our choices, we also have freewill to unmake those choices. We have freewill to choose to support others, in the same way we have freewill not to.

Conclusion

It's hard for anyone to know that what they had to deal with is trauma. That those close to us may wittingly fail to address our needs, like those needs didn’t matter, like we didn’t matter.

For me, my neurological issues make up the biggest part of my disability and that is what I struggled with the most. What I am irked at is the quality of life I could have had, if I'd had the support for my mental and emotional struggles.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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2 comments on “Wilful Neglect”

  1. No child should be the subject of wilful neglect as opposed though an unfortunate set of circumstances beyond a parent's control, such as poverty.

    There is simply no excuse and to impose that on a child is wrong. As you say, none of this is on you, it will always be on those who inflicted this on you.

    You were a child!

    1. Thanks. As you say none of this is on me and I agree. But when that guilt has nowhere to go it is easy to think you need to carry it. I know better than to do that.

      My blog has been instrumental in helping me to come to terms with my past. But those instrumental need to accept their parts and own it for themselves.

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