I can't post a copy here, because it is on a flier in the coffee shop i'm in right now, but there is an ad for a life-coaching seminar, and this is what it reads: [bold emphasis my own]
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"When our GROWN kids disappoint us - Letting go"
THIS PRESENTATION IS FOR YOU IF
life is difficult because your adult child can't or won't:
-leave home
-your adult child can't get or hold a job
-your adult child is exceedingly dependant
-your adult child can't support themselves
-your adult child is chronically depressed
-your adult child has an eating disorder
-your adult child has a problem with drugs or alcohol
-your adult child is in trouble with the law or lives outside of it
-your adult child is estranged from family and friends
To register, send him an email with the subject 'kids'
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To me there are SO MANY things wrong with this...
I understand that adults need support in handling difficult situations for themselves...
but to put on a flier that parents ought to feel DISAPPOINTED in their children if they develop mental health conditions??????
That just... really bothers me. Things like that. that stigma of disappointment is why I still cannot tell any of my family/talk to my family about the fact that I am sick. The idea that disappointment ought to be associated with finding out someone is being really strong an brave and FIGHTING an eating disorder....
And then there's the whole focus on "kids" and "adult children" which I also find really unsettling...
In case I didn't say it earlier, the ad is for a life coach.
I may be a little over-sensitive at the moment, but the wording really bothered me, and I thought I'd share.
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