If you’re like many people I know, the title alone may have made you laugh. My parents, emotions? Validation? You must be crazy!

Nearly every day I hear clients recounting stories from childhood all the way to the present of parents scoffing at their emotions. “You think you have it bad? That’s nothing compared to the old country!”  “Stop crying; I didn’t bring you to this country for you to cry all the time!” “Don’t be sad; you have it so good.” “Don’t you understand how much we’ve sacrificed for you?” “You’re being so selfish!” “We brought you here to be happy.”

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