“They Don’t Even Talk to Each Other”: Youngsters Share Pain of Never Seeing Their Parents Together
- South African youngsters felt left out during a now-viral TikTok trend of people showing off their parents
- The Mzansi youth shared their pain in a post created by a lady who too was hurting from never experiencing her folks together
- There are multiple ways to become a present parent and show your children you care about them
- A relationship expert shared how parents could show up more for their kids
Being raised in a broken home is one of the most unpleasant experiences a child could ever go through.
Source: Getty Images
The parents might resent each other after going through a nasty separation, which could impact their kids.
SA youngsters share pain of never seeing parents together
A new TikTok trend has many South African youngsters feeling left out. The challenge is about young people showing a cute picture of their parents in love and then showing the beautiful child they’ve conceived together.
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Many Mzansi people were pained after realising that they had never experienced their folks in love. Some mentioned the toxic relationship their parents now have after their hostile breakup.
One South African lady, Kat, filmed herself in a gloomy mood, listening to the trend’s theme song, Hometown Glory by Adele:
“I like it in the city when two worlds collide.”
Kat captioned her clip:
“POV: Your parents were never together like that. No pictures, no nothing, just my mother and I forever.”
Watch the TikTok video below:
How to be a present parent to your children
There’s no manual on how to be a good parent, people do their best with what they have. An article by Parents tipped folks on how to show up more in their children’s lives.
Six ways to be a present parent:
- Notice when you’re being mindful
- Announce when you’re not being mindful
- Hide your phone
- Help yourself stick to it
- Try some PBR (pause, breathe, and respond with intention)
Source: Getty Images
How patents can show up more for kids
A relationship expert, Paula Quinsee explained how parents could show up more for their children:
“Parents largely feel the financial responsibility when it comes to having children, but love is not just about providing for their children financially, it’s also about creating emotional stability and being present in their children’s lives. Being present entails being available, listening, and engaging in their kids’ lives.”
Here are some examples:
- Being present at important moments such as school sports or other events. If a parent is always absent due to work or other commitments, thinking they are doing the right thing providing for their family, however, children can interpret this as they are unimportant in the process.
- Spending quality time with your child, such as putting your phone/laptop or other things aside to connect and have a conversation with your child provides emotional availability and reassurance of your love.
- When a child expresses frustration, instead of dismissing it, parents should try to validate their child’s feelings and experience which makes them feel heard and secure.
- A parent who regularly checks in with their child, even in the smallest of ways such as a note in their lunchbox, builds a foundation of security, love and trust over time.
Mzansi reacts to latest TikTok trend gone viral
South African youngsters shared their pain in a thread of 179 comments:
@username explained:
“I kept the pictures for my daughter so that she knows that she was conceived out of love. We may not be a family now but love was once there.”
@LondyS shared:
“Same here, I’ve never seen them together not even in my dreams!”
@Aus' Puse: Eyyyy. wrote in the comments:
“They are both alive but I have not seen them together, not even in pictures yet they were married.”
@alicia.sibiya highlighted:
“Not being able to participate because I’m a product of a one-night stand.”
@Lollie commented:
“I only have one picture with both my parents, and I lost that picture shortly after my father passed on. I think about it every day.”
@Amogelang explained:
“She threw and tore up his pictures. I don't know what he looks like.”
@🤍MOJ 🙂↔️💐 shared:
“They don’t even talk to each other.”
@Cebi_ told SA:
“Apparently they were in love, shame, and my dad wanted to marry my mom but my great-grandparents refused and then he passed away two years after I was born.”
3 More stories by Briefly News
- South Africans were moved by an older couple after sharing their love story and solid relationship advice after over three decades of marriage.
- One Mzansi youngster showed off her parents' lovey-dovey relationship after more than thirty years of marriage.
- An older South African couple had Mzansi geeked after they were spotted creating content during a day out together.
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Source: Briefly News
Chuma Nontsele (Human Interest Editor) Chuma Nontsele is a human interest journalist for Briefly News (joined in 2024). Nontsele holds a Diploma in Journalism and started her career working at Daily Maverick as a news reporter. Later, she ventured into lifestyle and entertainment. Chuma has 3 years of experience as a journalist. You can reach her at chuma.nontsele@briefly.co.za
Paula Quinsee (Certified Relationship Therapy Educator and founder of Engaged Humans) Paula Quinsee is the founder of Engaged Humans, facilitating connection between individuals and organisations to create a more human-connected world. She is a certified Imago Relationship Therapy educator and facilitator, NLP practitioner, PDA analyst, coach and trainer. Paula is also the author of two self-help guides - Embracing Conflict and Embracing No - as well as an international speaker, advocate for mental health and activist for gender-based violence.
