--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A very painful part of being a parent is…" description: "\"A very painful part of being a parent is having really negative feelings about your children when you love them so much.\" — Louis C. K" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/louis-c-k-1150_being-a-parent_a-very-painful-part-of-being-a-parent-is_2417469.png" --- # A very painful part of being a parent is having really… ![“A very painful part of being a parent is having really negative feelings about your children when you love them so much.” quote by Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/louis-c-k-1150_being-a-parent_a-very-painful-part-of-being-a-parent-is_2417469.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/louis-c-k-1150_being-a-parent_a-very-painful-part-of-being-a-parent-is_2417469.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/louis-c-k-1150_being-a-parent_a-very-painful-part-of-being-a-parent-is_2417469.png) > “A very painful part of being a parent is having really negative feelings about your children when you love them so much.” [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents may experience contradictory emotions, loving their child while also feeling frustration or resentment, which can be distressing. **In simple terms:** Loving parents can also feel negative emotions toward their kids. Key Takeaway Accept and process mixed feelings without judgment. Themes parenting emotional conflict self‑compassion Mood conflicted reflective Type advice psychological When to use this quote - daily parenting - therapy sessions - support groups - conflict resolution Key Concepts attachment theory cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when negative feelings arise? - What strategies help you reconcile love and frustration? A Different Perspective These feelings may be amplified by stress, sleep deprivation, or unrealistic expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being a parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-parent/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Negative feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-feelings/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [There are no moments more painful for a parent than those in which you contemplate your child's perfect innocence of some imminent pain, misfortune,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/there-are-no-moments-more-painful-for-a-parent-than-those-in-which/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [The one thing I think you must do is, as painful as it is as a parent, is listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tea-leoni/the-one-thing-i-think-you-must-do-is-as-painful-as-it-is-as-a-parent/) [Tea Leoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tea-leoni/) > [Of course, I get angry. Of course, I get sad. I have a full range of emotions. I also have a whole smorgasbord of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/of-course-i-get-angry-of-course-i-get-sad-i-have-a-full-range-of/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [“Can forgivenes for the crimes done to a child be not just ineffective but actively harmful? It certainly can because the body does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/can-forgivenes-for-the-crimes-done-to-a-child-be-not-just-ineffective/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Children are all more or less little monkeys in that they imitate everything they see. If their mother treats them exactly as she does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/children-are-all-more-or-less-little-monkeys-in-that-they-imitate/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [“People with an entertaining rigid structure are brought up in environments in which the parents are uncomfortable with expressing feelings. This is not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-greene/people-with-an-entertaining-rigid-structure-are-brought-up-in/) [Elliot Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-greene/) > [“You were a child, you didn't mean to hurt my feelings. Children are ignorant. It takes an adult to choose to be cruel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-strnad/you-were-a-child-you-didn-t-mean-to-hurt-my-feelings-children-are/) [Jan Strnad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-strnad/) > [I think that discipline is so much of an important part of being a parent. Because it's very, very important to teach your children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-ladd/i-think-that-discipline-is-so-much-of-an-important-part-of-being-a/) [Cheryl Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-ladd/) > [You may strive to be like them but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/you-may-strive-to-be-like-them-but-seek-not-to-make-them-like-you-for/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [One of the sad realities of being a parent is that the same stuff you know is exciting, educational, and enriching in your child'slife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-maynard/one-of-the-sad-realities-of-being-a-parent-is-that-the-same-stuff-you/) [Joyce Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-maynard/) > [The Lord has directed, Bring up your children in light and truth. To me, there is no more important human effort. Being a father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-lord-has-directed-bring-up-your-children-in-light-and-truth-to-me/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Was it the act of giving birth that made you a mother? Did you lose that label when you relinquished your child? If people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/was-it-the-act-of-giving-birth-that-made-you-a-mother-did-you-lose/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [There is nothing that can bring you closer to fearlessness about everything else in the world than being a parent - because everyday fears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/there-is-nothing-that-can-bring-you-closer-to-fearlessness-about/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [Even playing in China and with the Opals, basketball got really negative for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/even-playing-in-china-and-with-the-opals-basketball-got-really/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [I've never dealt with really anything negative in the WWE as a whole, in the locker room, anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-ve-never-dealt-with-really-anything-negative-in-the-wwe-as-a-whole/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) ## More by Louis C. K > [Technically, I've learned that having good legs and wind is good for being on stage. You have to be in shape and have endurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/technically-i-ve-learned-that-having-good-legs-and-wind-is-good-for/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [I think I'm past any window where I'm suddenly going to become surprisingly ripped so that people go, 'Oh, my God, what happened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/i-think-i-m-past-any-window-where-i-m-suddenly-going-to-become/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [I can feel how an audience is reacting when I'm on a stage, but when you are on stage, your perception is distorted. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/i-can-feel-how-an-audience-is-reacting-when-i-m-on-a-stage-but-when/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [“You need to develop the ability to just be yourself and not be doing something, that's what the phones are taking away. The ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/you-need-to-develop-the-ability-to-just-be-yourself-and-not-be-doing/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [I know what it's like to have a bunch of material that's working that you don't care about. You want to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/i-know-what-it-s-like-to-have-a-bunch-of-material-that-s-working-that/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [I just love learning. I think learning is how you live. The verb of my life is learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/i-just-love-learning-i-think-learning-is-how-you-live-the-verb-of-my/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [There's been a lot of simple vilification of right-wing people. It's really easy to say, 'Well, you're Christian, you're anti-this and that, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/there-s-been-a-lot-of-simple-vilification-of-right-wing-people-it-s/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [“A woman saying yes to a date with a man is literally insane and ill-advised, and the whole species' existence counts on them doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/a-woman-saying-yes-to-a-date-with-a-man-is-literally-insane-and-ill/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [When your kid is being selfish or greedy and you want to help them not be that way, you have to find a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/when-your-kid-is-being-selfish-or-greedy-and-you-want-to-help-them/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [You have to be really tenacious. You have to keep at it. There are many roads to get there. If you can get yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/you-have-to-be-really-tenacious-you-have-to-keep-at-it-there-are-many/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [When I take my kids out for dinner or lunch, people smile at us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/when-i-take-my-kids-out-for-dinner-or-lunch-people-smile-at-us/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [I'd love to have a shitty job. I couldn't hold any down. Standup was the only thing I could stick with. I'm an idiot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/i-d-love-to-have-a-shitty-job-i-couldn-t-hold-any-down-standup-was/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [There's no way you ask Sean Penn a question and then, you're gonna be HUGE !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/there-s-no-way-you-ask-sean-penn-a-question-and-then-you-re-gonna-be/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [If you had a jetpack you'd be like I have the shittiest jetpack. Who's your service provider on your jetpack? Did they make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/if-you-had-a-jetpack-you-d-be-like-i-have-the-shittiest-jetpack-who-s/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [I spend enough time onscreen looking hangdog and depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/i-spend-enough-time-onscreen-looking-hangdog-and-depressed/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) [Explore all 282 Louis C. K quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) ## More Being a parent quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [Being a parent and having two young kids, I buy Blu-rays and DVDs all the time. It's like buying a toy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-letterman/being-a-parent-and-having-two-young-kids-i-buy-blu-rays-and-dvds-all/) [Rob Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-letterman/) > [The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/the-absurd-duty-too-often-inculcated-of-obeying-a-parent-only-on/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [There are many important elements to being a parent. A lot of people don't have fathers but they might have someone in their life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-tyler/there-are-many-important-elements-to-being-a-parent-a-lot-of-people/) [Liv Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-tyler/) > [Has it ever occurred to you that parents are nothing but overgrown kids until their children drag them into adulthood? Usually kicking and screaming?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/has-it-ever-occurred-to-you-that-parents-are-nothing-but-overgrown/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [There is nothing that can bring you closer to fearlessness about everything else in the world than being a parent - because everyday fears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/there-is-nothing-that-can-bring-you-closer-to-fearlessness-about/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [There's a marketing scheme that tells you that pregnancy and child rearing will make you into a moron, that your kids are only happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/there-s-a-marketing-scheme-that-tells-you-that-pregnancy-and-child/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) > [We live in a society now where it's very rare for your parents to be around. It used to be like, your mother, grandmothers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-hahn/we-live-in-a-society-now-where-it-s-very-rare-for-your-parents-to-be/) [Kathryn Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-hahn/) > [My son was born somewhat late in my life and I just found myself really feeling like I didn't want to miss out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-allen/my-son-was-born-somewhat-late-in-my-life-and-i-just-found-myself/) [Karen Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-allen/) > [Was it the act of giving birth that made you a mother? Did you lose that label when you relinquished your child? If people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/was-it-the-act-of-giving-birth-that-made-you-a-mother-did-you-lose/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The Lord has directed, Bring up your children in light and truth. To me, there is no more important human effort. Being a father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-lord-has-directed-bring-up-your-children-in-light-and-truth-to-me/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [I believe everyone should have the same rights. They say gay marriage ruins families and hurts kids. Well, I've had the privilege of seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/i-believe-everyone-should-have-the-same-rights-they-say-gay-marriage/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [being a parent is not transaction ... we do not get what we give. It is the ultimate pay-it-forward endeavor: we are good parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/being-a-parent-is-not-transaction-we-do-not-get-what-we-give-it-is/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I believe that children are, by nature, very forgiving. I don't think children expect their parents to be perfect. I think they demand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/i-believe-that-children-are-by-nature-very-forgiving-i-don-t-think/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Infants and young children are not just sitting twiddling their thumbs, waiting for their parents to teach them to read and do math. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-elkind/infants-and-young-children-are-not-just-sitting-twiddling-their/) [David Elkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-elkind/) [Browse all 154 Being a parent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-parent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A very painful part of being a parent is having really negative feelings about your children when you love them so much.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis C. 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