Dr. Jameca CooperForensic Psychology Consultant, Emergence Psychological Services · Board Certified Counseling Psychologist and Forensic Psychology Consultant

What childhood pattern ended with you? #genx #parenting #breakingcycles

9 Sept 2026 · 1 min

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In this reflective segment, Dr. Jameca Cooper shares a personal parenting decision that breaks a childhood pattern: she deliberately chooses not to repeat the emotional silence she experienced growing up. She explains that she wants her children to feel comfortable and free to discuss their feelings, even when those feelings stem from something she may have caused. While she may not always be able to change the situation, she emphasizes the importance of hearing and validating her children's emotions. She notes this approach may differ from typical Gen X parenting norms, inviting viewers to consider how they might also break cycles.

Chapters

What's one thing that you intentionally did not repeat from your own childhood? I'll go first. I did not want to have my children not feeling comfortable and free to talk to me. So in other words, if I asked them a question like, what's wrong? Or why are you upset? Even if they're upset with something I did, I wanted them to always feel comfortable sharing that with me, like telling me what it is, even if I'm not going to do anything about it. But I do want to hear it, and I do want to hear how you feel, because your feelings matter. And that's a little bit different than most Gen X folks, I'm guessing. I don't know, you tell me.