--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At some point, parents may become inured…" description: "\"At some point, parents may become inured to a child's self-destruction, but I never did.\" — David Sheff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/david-sheff-7087_become_at-some-point-parents-may-become-inured_800924.jpg" --- # At some point, parents may become inured to a child's… ![“At some point, parents may become inured to a child's self-destruction, but I never did.” quote by David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/david-sheff-7087_become_at-some-point-parents-may-become-inured_800924.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/david-sheff-7087_become_at-some-point-parents-may-become-inured_800924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/david-sheff-7087_become_at-some-point-parents-may-become-inured_800924.jpg) > “At some point, parents may become inured to a child's self-destruction, but I never did.” [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents can become desensitized to a child's harmful behavior, yet some remain vigilant and intervene. **In simple terms:** Parents may ignore harmful behavior, but some stay alert. Key Takeaway Stay attentive to warning signs. Themes parenting awareness intervention Mood concerned determined Type advice reflective When to use this quote - family crisis - child mental health - early intervention Key Concepts desensitization protective vigilance Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize early signs of self-harm? - What support can help vigilant parents? A Different Perspective Parents may lack resources to act despite awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) [Child Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-self-374559/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Inured Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inured-child-6132971/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Inured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-inured-6132970/) [Self destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-destruction/) ## Related quotes > [Spina bifida affects every single aspect of your life, from your child's self-esteem to your ability to sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/spina-bifida-affects-every-single-aspect-of-your-life-from-your-child/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [Any child who is self-sufficient, who can tie his shoes, dress or undress himself, reflects in his joy and sense of achievement the image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/any-child-who-is-self-sufficient-who-can-tie-his-shoes-dress-or/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“A child is a part of the self, and of the loved partner; a representation of generations past; the genes of the forebears; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-raphael/a-child-is-a-part-of-the-self-and-of-the-loved-partner-a/) [Beverly Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-raphael/) > [Once you see a child's self-image begin to improve, you will see significant gains in achievement areas, but even more important, you will see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/once-you-see-a-child-s-self-image-begin-to-improve-you-will-see/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“A child is not a bona fide adult, regardless of age, until the child is self-supporting.)   During”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rosemond/a-child-is-not-a-bona-fide-adult-regardless-of-age-until-the-child-is/) [John Rosemond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rosemond/) > [“People don’t necessarily realize it when they contribute to the erosion of a child’s self-worth, but kids pay attention to how people treat them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-k-sanz/people-don-t-necessarily-realize-it-when-they-contribute-to-the/) [D.K. Sanz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-k-sanz/) > [An adolescent is both an impulsive child and a self-starting adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/an-adolescent-is-both-an-impulsive-child-and-a-self-starting-adult/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [I will plant my feet on that step where my parents put me as a child, until self-evident truth comes to light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-plant-my-feet-on-that-step-where-my-parents-put-me-as-a-child/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The clearer the rules and the limits enforced by parents, the higher the child's self-esteem. The more freedom the child had, the lower his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/the-clearer-the-rules-and-the-limits-enforced-by-parents-the-higher/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [I feel that when a child has self-worth and purpose, that's what keeps them grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jada-pinkett-smith/i-feel-that-when-a-child-has-self-worth-and-purpose-that-s-what-keeps/) [Jada Pinkett Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jada-pinkett-smith/) > [I'm an only child, so I am a very self-motivated and driven person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/i-m-an-only-child-so-i-am-a-very-self-motivated-and-driven-person/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) > [I was really shy when I was a child, very self-conscious about taking up space or being an attention seeker. I was the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-sumner/i-was-really-shy-when-i-was-a-child-very-self-conscious-about-taking/) [Mickey Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-sumner/) > [I feel different. You know this many times over, because you are a parent, but it transforms you. It's this incredible experience where, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-spektor/i-feel-different-you-know-this-many-times-over-because-you-are-a/) [Regina Spektor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-spektor/) > [Parents need to fill a child's self esteem so high that the rest of the world can't poke enough holes to drain it dry..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/parents-need-to-fill-a-child-s-self-esteem-so-high-that-the-rest-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some parents want to be popular, but that's not their job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/some-parents-want-to-be-popular-but-that-s-not-their-job/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) ## More by David Sheff > [I was ashamed. My son is a drug addict. What does this mean about me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/i-was-ashamed-my-son-is-a-drug-addict-what-does-this-mean-about-me/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [Elvis Presley's music said, 'Free your body.' The Beatles said, 'Free your mind.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/elvis-presley-s-music-said-free-your-body-the-beatles-said-free-your/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [Well, addiction does start with a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/well-addiction-does-start-with-a-choice/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [Some parents want to be popular, but that's not their job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/some-parents-want-to-be-popular-but-that-s-not-their-job/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [The war on drugs is a joke. We spend $40 billion a year, and the proof that it's a failure is that any kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/the-war-on-drugs-is-a-joke-we-spend-40-billion-a-year-and-the-proof/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [When I was a child, my parents didn't know anything about drugs. They didn't even drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/when-i-was-a-child-my-parents-didn-t-know-anything-about-drugs-they/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [Nick's mother and I were attentive, probably overly attentive - part of the first wave of parents obsessed with our children in a self-conscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/nick-s-mother-and-i-were-attentive-probably-overly-attentive-part-of/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [Having been hit by drug addiction, knowing how many are hit by it and what a big problem it is in our neighborhoods and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/having-been-hit-by-drug-addiction-knowing-how-many-are-hit-by-it-and/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [Here's a note to the parents of addicted children: Choose your music carefully...There are millions of treacherous moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/here-s-a-note-to-the-parents-of-addicted-children-choose-your-music/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [This stigma associated with drug use--the belief that bad kids use, good kids don't, and those with full-blown addiction are weak, dissolute, and pathetic--has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/this-stigma-associated-with-drug-use-the-belief-that-bad-kids-use/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [It's hard to find someone who did as many drugs for as long and in such dangerous combinations as Nic - spending years going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/it-s-hard-to-find-someone-who-did-as-many-drugs-for-as-long-and-in/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [I chose a rehab center for Nic that was recommended by a friend who had sent her son there. The program lasted 28 days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/i-chose-a-rehab-center-for-nic-that-was-recommended-by-a-friend-who/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [“In his suicide note, Kurt Cobain wrote, "It's better to burn out than to fade away." He was quoting a Neil Young song about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/in-his-suicide-note-kurt-cobain-wrote-it-s-better-to-burn-out-than-to/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [Anyone who has lived through it, or those who are now living through it, knows that caring about an addict is as complex and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/anyone-who-has-lived-through-it-or-those-who-are-now-living-through/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [If a child had another disease, we'd be open about what we were going through, but addiction is stigmatised and comes with shame and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/if-a-child-had-another-disease-we-d-be-open-about-what-we-were-going/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) [Explore all 95 David Sheff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) ## More Become quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/a-strong-responsible-israel-can-become-a-stabilizer-in-such-a/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [If someone has the opportunity to become a model, I would say, 'Do it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-russell/if-someone-has-the-opportunity-to-become-a-model-i-would-say-do-it/) [Cameron Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-russell/) > [I had a talent for copying the signatures of dignitaries like Indira Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan and so on. So, I wanted to become someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/i-had-a-talent-for-copying-the-signatures-of-dignitaries-like-indira/) [Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/) > [In the Tea Party era, it is the restless conservative Republican who has become passion's plaything, the toy of impetuous romance, an erotomania only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/in-the-tea-party-era-it-is-the-restless-conservative-republican-who/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [You can never tell when a commercial space venture will suddenly become viable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/you-can-never-tell-when-a-commercial-space-venture-will-suddenly/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [My first bill to become law repeals regulations to make everyday life easier and more affordable for Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/my-first-bill-to-become-law-repeals-regulations-to-make-everyday-life/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/) [Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/) > [Canada has become such a staging area for Chinese money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/canada-has-become-such-a-staging-area-for-chinese-money/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [Sometimes when you're in different countries, everything has become so homogenised and there's a Starbucks and McDonald's everywhere, and you could feel like you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-yun-lee/sometimes-when-you-re-in-different-countries-everything-has-become-so/) [Will Yun Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-yun-lee/) [Browse all 4,184 Become quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At some point, parents may become inured to a child's self-destruction, but I never did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Sheff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/at-some-point-parents-may-become-inured-to-a-child-s-self-destruction/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Become" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/at-some-point-parents-may-become-inured-to-a-child-s-self-destruction/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/david-sheff-7087_become_at-some-point-parents-may-become-inured_800924.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/david-sheff-7087_become_at-some-point-parents-may-become-inured_800924.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a45/david-sheff-7087_become_at-some-point-parents-may-become-inured_800924.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At some point, parents may become inured to a child's self-destruction, but I never did.” — David Sheff", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Sheff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "At some point, parents may become...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/at-some-point-parents-may-become-inured-to-a-child-s-self-destruction/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/at-some-point-parents-may-become-inured-to-a-child-s-self-destruction/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```