Caring for Children While Healing from Betrayal

When betrayal happens in a marriage, the emotional impact on a betrayed partner is overwhelming. But what about the children? How can a mother (or father) navigate their own healing while still being present for their children?

In this powerful episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jenet Erickson, an expert in family relationships and maternal mental health. She shares research-backed insights into the connection between mothers and children, how emotional regulation plays a role in both healing and parenting, and why you don’t have to be a perfect parent for your child to thrive.

If you’ve ever felt guilt or fear about how your trauma is affecting your kids, this episode offers hope, encouragement, and practical ways to show up for your children while also taking care of yourself.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

⏳ [04:00] – The unseen impact of betrayal trauma on parenting

⏳ [07:10] – The science behind mother-child attachment and emotional regulation

⏳ [16:00] – The myth of shielding children from emotions—and why they need honesty instead

⏳ [20:00] – How taking care of your own healing benefits your children long-term

⏳ [24:10] – The power of small daily rituals (and why they matter more than hours of time)

⏳ [26:00] – How healing is possible no matter how much time has passed

⏳ [34:00] – Why your presence matters more than perfection in parenting

Key Takeaways:

✅ Children are resilient—they don’t need perfect parents, just present and emotionally engaged ones.

✅ Healing yourself first is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children.

✅ Small, predictable moments of connection (like bedtime stories or shared meals) are more important than constant time together.

✅ Children can handle emotions—what they struggle with is when their emotions are ignored or denied.

✅ It’s never too late to heal. Even if your children are grown, your healing still impacts them in powerful ways.

🎁 Download My Free Course: First Steps to Rebuilding Trust (link in bio)

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About Jenet Erickson: Jenet Jacob Erickson is an associate professor in Religious Education at Brigham Young University, where teaches the Eternal Family (Rel 200) course as well as the Introduction to Family Process (SFL 160) course for the School of Family Life. The 5th of 11 children, she was raised on a small farm in Orem, Utah, where they did lots of music together. She received a PhD in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota, after completing a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, and master’s degree in Lingui