I'm in my mid-forties and my therapist asked me to name a time my parents comforted me as a child and I sat there for eleven minutes trying to remember a single instance - not because they were cruel but because affection just wasn't part of our family's vocabulary - Silicon Canals

"Love in the household was demonstrated through practical actions, such as ensuring food was on the table and working extra shifts for family vacations, rather than through verbal affirmations or physical affection."

"The upbringing emphasized resilience, with children being told to get up after falling or to move on from feelings of nervousness, reflecting a cultural norm of emotional stoicism inherited from previous generations."

A person reflects on their childhood, revealing a lack of emotional comfort from parents despite their love. Growing up in a working-class family outside Manchester, love was shown through practical actions like providing food and working extra hours. There was no verbal expression of love or physical affection. The upbringing emphasized resilience, with messages to 'deal with it' rather than process feelings. This pattern of emotional stoicism was inherited from previous generations who faced their own hardships.

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