--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was away from home and missing my…" description: "\"When I was away from home and missing my children, I asked myself why I didn't show my approval and enjoyment of them more when I was with them, when i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/benjamin-spock-20th-century-14_children_when-i-was-away-from-home-and-missing-my_2143311.jpg" --- # When I was away from home and missing my children, I asked… ![“When I was away from home and missing my children, I asked myself why I didn't show my approval and enjoyment of them more when I was with them, when it would do themand mealot of good. But I don't think I was ever able to take my own advice. The psychological explanation for this is that we…” quote by Benjamin Spock (20th Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/benjamin-spock-20th-century-14_children_when-i-was-away-from-home-and-missing-my_2143311.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/benjamin-spock-20th-century-14_children_when-i-was-away-from-home-and-missing-my_2143311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/benjamin-spock-20th-century-14_children_when-i-was-away-from-home-and-missing-my_2143311.jpg) > “When I was away from home and missing my children, I asked myself why I didn't show my approval and enjoyment of them more when I was with them, when it would do themand mealot of good. But I don't think I was ever able to take my own advice. The psychological explanation for this is that we crabby perfectionists were started in that direction in our own childhood by the frequent criticism of our parents; it is very difficult to overcome the compulsion to repeat what was done to us.” [Benjamin Spock (20th Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock-20th-century/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfectionist parents' criticism creates a compulsion to repeat negative patterns, making self‑advice hard to follow. **In simple terms:** Criticism from perfectionist parents fuels repeating harmful habits. Key Takeaway Break the cycle of inherited perfectionism. Themes parenting perfectionism psychology self‑criticism generational patterns Mood reflective somber hopeful Type analytical therapeutic educational When to use this quote - therapy - parent‑child counseling - self‑help workshops - personal journaling Key Concepts behavioral conditioning family dynamics self‑awareness mental health Questions to Reflect On - How does childhood criticism shape adult behavior? - What strategies help break perfectionist cycles? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated habits is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice Psychological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice-psychological-4473165/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Crabby Perfectionists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crabby-perfectionists-4473163/) [Criticism Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-parents-2398421/) [Perfectionists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionists/) [Perfectionists Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionists-started-4473164/) [Things happen for a reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen-for-a-reason/) ## Related quotes > [Spanking and verbal criticism have become, to many parents, more important tools of child rearing than approval.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-donahue/spanking-and-verbal-criticism-have-become-to-many-parents-more/) [Phil Donahue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-donahue/) > [“Scientists define perfectionism as the will to achieve high standards combined with excessive self-criticism. Perfectionists expect, well, perfection. Anything less won’t do. In their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-petersen/scientists-define-perfectionism-as-the-will-to-achieve-high-standards/) [Andrea Petersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-petersen/) > [Parenting is no sport for perfectionists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/parenting-is-no-sport-for-perfectionists/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [Reaching for the stars, perfectionists may end up clutching at air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/reaching-for-the-stars-perfectionists-may-end-up-clutching-at-air/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [A lot of actors are perfectionists, besides merely being egotists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mabius/a-lot-of-actors-are-perfectionists-besides-merely-being-egotists/) [Eric Mabius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mabius/) > [I had no idea what I was walking into, and the years and years of hard work it would take. I felt like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-had-no-idea-what-i-was-walking-into-and-the-years-and-years-of-hard/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [“More importantly, however, the formalized apprenticeship system led to higher and higher aesthetic and quality standards. 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