Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

Every generation seems to approach parenting with a unique set of tools—and blind spots. For many Millennials, that gap appears in one specific area: emotional support. When Reddit user u/Soup_stew_supremacy asked r/Millennials, “Do any of you struggle to get emotional support from your parents?”—the answers flooded in fast, and they struck a nerve.

In her post, she shared:


"My parents are in no way bad people, but they get really uncomfortable with feelings of any kind…"

She added that while her parents (and those of her friends) might offer help with tasks or money, “they don’t want to talk about anything regarding feelings or mental health.” The response? A loud, collective “same.”

“They weren’t taught how to support themselves, let alone us”

Redditor veronicagh recommended the book Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, saying it helped her understand common patterns. She shared a list of signs, including parents who show extreme emotions, lack empathy, manipulate, or avoid vulnerability. The pattern? It's often generational.

"You mean people can get emotional support from their parents?!?!"

@lifeuncommon

Another user, Available-Fig8741, explained how understanding her parents’ upbringing helped her process their limitations: “They were raised by a generation where it was the rule and not an exception to do some kind of military service… They were taught to just survive.” She said therapy helped her release expectations and instead love them “how they’re capable of loving me back.”

woman's face

Photo by Danie Franco on Unsplash

The patterns show up early—and leave lasting marks

Many responses highlighted childhood moments that set the tone for a lifetime. Soup_stew_supremacy shared how her parents “trained” her not to cry by mocking her when she did: “To this day, I struggle to cry at all and I cannot cry in the company of other people.”

"I feel like I'm their parent most of the time."

@foamy_da_skwirrel

Others described parental responses rooted in religion, outdated gender norms, or total emotional detachment. User Consolatio wrote that her “Super Christian” parents always turned conversations into sermons: “Jesus can fill all your holes (and yes, I wish I was exaggerating).”

man and woman sitting on sofa in a room

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Emotional maturity often skips a generation

Some pointed out that while their parents provided financial or logistical support, they couldn’t match their children’s emotional awareness. Parking_Buy_1525 explained, “I’ve never had that warm fuzzy feeling with my parents… But I learned certain things at a very young age and adjusted my expectations accordingly.”

"You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip."

@SnoopDoggyDoggsCat

Others felt more like caretakers than children. “They expect me to support their emotions,” wrote Mehgan-Faux. One commenter described their father as someone who only respected anger as an emotion. Another shared that their mother gets defensive when they bring up health issues, making it easier just not to share anything at all.

Some are healing by seeking support elsewhere

mental health text

Photo by Marcel Strauß on Unsplash

Several commenters said they’ve found peace not by changing their parents, but by building emotional support systems outside of them. That might mean friends, therapists, or partners. One user said simply: “I don't struggle in that I just don't expect it. It's frankly easier for me to seek it elsewhere.”

In other cases, people cut ties altogether. User _PercCobain_ wrote, “I haven’t talked to or had anything to do with my parents in 8 years, they didn’t do anything for me as a kid so I have nothing to do with them now.”

Yet many commenters still expressed empathy. They acknowledged their parents likely did the best they could with the tools they had, but that didn’t stop them from working toward something better for themselves—and for their own kids.

If any of this sounds familiar, it might be worth reading Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents or following communities like r/raisedbynarcissists and r/emotionalneglect for solidarity and support.

Breaking the cycle starts with awareness—and for many Millennials, that work is already underway.

More For You

Mom surprises blind son with a secret braille message he can feel
Generative photo by Canva

Mom surprises blind son with a secret braille message he can feel

When Karissa Livia sat down for her latest manicure, she wasn’t just thinking about a bold new design—she was planning a heartfelt surprise for her 15-year-old son, Shay. Shay, who is visually impaired, had previously enjoyed hearing his mom describe her nail colors. But this time, Karissa wanted to take it a step further.

The result? A manicure featuring a message in braille, spelled out with tiny rhinestones that Shay could feel. And the message? “Love U, Shay.”

Keep ReadingShow less

Sisters thought they were saying goodbye—then their dad made a surprising announcement

Saying goodbye to family is never easy, especially when it involves a father watching his daughters leave home to chase their dreams. One emotional TikTok video perfectly captured this bittersweet moment, showing a dad who couldn’t bear to simply wave goodbye—so he found a beautiful way to be part of the journey instead.

Brittney Swanzer (@brittneyswanzer) shared a touching video of the moment she and her sister prepared to leave Ohio for California. As they stood ready to say their goodbyes, their father stepped outside, already overcome with emotion. But what happened next took everyone by surprise.

Keep ReadingShow less
A man holds his head while sitting on a sofa.

Representative Image: Millennials have one common thought about how they were raised.

Millennials are finally saying what they wish their parents had said to them

Every generation seems to approach parenting with a unique set of tools—and blind spots. For many Millennials, that gap appears in one specific area: emotional support. When Reddit user u/Soup_stew_supremacy asked r/Millennials, “Do any of you struggle to get emotional support from your parents?”—the answers flooded in fast, and they struck a nerve.

In her post, she shared:

Keep ReadingShow less
Images from a baby name reveal.

The moment this mom realized her daughter's name had a hidden Batman connection.

They picked the perfect baby name—until a movie changed everything

When it comes to baby names, parents pull inspiration from all sorts of places—family history, beloved books, even favorite meals. But sometimes, a name carries a hidden meaning that only one parent is in on. That’s exactly what happened to TikTok user @viashoe, whose daughter's name has a secret connection to Batman that she didn’t discover until well after the birth.

A casual Thanksgiving reveal

In a now-viral TikTok, @viashoe shared the moment the puzzle pieces fell into place. While spending Thanksgiving with her husband’s family, they decided to watch Batman: The Animated Series—a classic from the '90s that's known for its dark tone and emotionally complex characters. As the show played in the background, someone in the family was entertaining their baby girl when a familiar voice on the screen said, “My wife, Nora…”

Keep ReadingShow less
Couples dancing at a wedding.

Representative Image: Her siblings saved her wedding with their heartfelt gesture.

Bride’s siblings gave her an unforgettable gift after their parents refused to show up to wedding

A wedding is meant to be a joyous occasion, a day filled with love and support from family and friends. But for many in the LGBTQIA+ community, that support isn’t always guaranteed. A study published in the Journal of Family Psychology found that 70% of LGBTQIA+ individuals experience some level of parental rejection.

Megan knew that reality all too well. When she married the love of her life, Brittany, her parents chose not to attend due to their religious beliefs. But rather than dwell on their absence, Megan’s siblings stepped up in a way that moved everyone to tears. They gave her a surprise father-daughter dance—one that she would never forget.

Keep ReadingShow less