The man sat at his desk, his phone in the middle of a mess of papers, coffee mugs, and other detritus. He stared at the photo of the toddler on the screen, his expression unreadable.
He had remarried last year, after his first wife had divorced him following years of abuse. His new wife also had a child from a previous relationship, and the two of them had quickly bonded with the toddler.
The man had never been a particularly good father to his own children, but he was determined to do better with this one. He had already enrolled the toddler in daycare and started taking parenting classes.
But he still couldn’t shake the feeling that he was a fraud. He didn’t deserve to be a father, especially not to a child as sweet and innocent as this one.
He sighed and picked up his phone. He needed to call his therapist. He had a lot to talk about.
The man’s therapist listened patiently as he recounted his story. She nodded in understanding when he told her about his abusive past and his doubts about his ability to be a good father.
“It’s clear that you’re struggling with a lot of guilt and self-doubt,” she said. “But you’re also making a lot of positive changes in your life. You’re enrolled in parenting classes, you’re taking your therapy seriously, and you’re committed to being a good father to this child.”
“I know,” the man said. “But it’s hard. I’m afraid that I’m going to screw everything up.”
“Everyone makes mistakes,” the therapist said. “The important thing is to learn from them and to keep trying your best. You’re already doing a great job.”
The man smiled. “Thanks,” he said. “I really needed to hear that.”
The therapist continued, “I think it would also be helpful for you to connect with other men who have been in your situation. There are many support groups available for men who are struggling with anger issues or who have a history of abuse. Talking to other men who understand what you’re going through can be very validating and supportive.”
The man nodded. “I’ll look into that,” he said.
“I’m confident that you can be a great father,” the therapist said. “You just need to keep working at it and to believe in yourself.”
The man stood up and shook the therapist’s hand. “Thank you,” he said. “I’ll see you next week.”
As he walked out of the therapist’s office, the man felt a sense of hope. He knew that he had a long way to go, but he was determined to be a good father to the toddler. He was finally ready to start a new chapter in his life.
The man’s story is a reminder that it is never too late to change. He had a history of abuse, but he was willing to get help and to make amends for his past mistakes. He is now a loving and devoted father to his toddler, and he is determined to break the cycle of abuse.
Cooperation is essential for achieving our goals, both personal and professional. It is important to focus on shared values, build trust, and find win-win solutions. By working together, we can achieve more than we ever could on our own.
— hiro (@hiro_osaka_jp) August 5, 2023
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