Mothers Who Can't Love

Not as good as Toxic Parents, but some nuggets of truth picked up. I skipped over the self-help workbook stuff (I'm not gonna burn paper or stuff balloons). The level of narcissism I experienced was not as severe, but still traumatic. I would recommend this to women who are exploring the effects of their abusive or judgemental mothers on their present (or past!) lives.

A follow up to Toxic Parents, focusing especially on five types of toxic (unloving) mothers and their effect on daughters, followed by advice on how daughters can change this dysfunctional relationship, or decide to leave if it can't be salvaged with their own integrity intact. It was not very clear what was particular about the mother-daughter relationship vs. the general parent-child relationship, but that didn't matter for my purposes. I find Forward's approach helpful as a general outline, although a bit narrow and harsh. Good to complement with some other books like It Didn't Start With You, or Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, which go more into the general family dynamic that evolves such bizarre behavior.

Incredibly helpful. Incredibly gut wrenching.