Eps 129 - The Danger of Making Your Kids Your Whole World | Identity, Enmeshment & the Parent Trap

In this episode of The Re-Mind Podcast, Dr Ashleigh Moreland and David Masterton explore a deeply important and often misunderstood topic: what happens when your children become the center of your universe.

Ash shares her perspective as a parent who has seen how identity can dissolve into roles—mother, wife, daughter, teacher—until there’s nothing left of “you.” Dave brings the other side of the story: what it’s like to be the child of a parent who gave everything, and how that love, though well-intentioned, can become suffocating.

Together they unpack the emotional risks of over-identifying with parenthood and how to lovingly reclaim your own sense of self without abandoning your kids.

In this episode:

• The hidden danger in “putting your kids first, always”

• How identity loss fuels depression and disconnection in midlife

• The enmeshment trap: when your child’s happiness becomes your responsibility

• How parentification shapes anxious, over-responsible adults

• Why good intentions aren’t always healthy dynamics

• The difference between being a present parent and an over-involved one

• Why letting your child be separate from you is an act of love

  
  

Ash and Dave open a vulnerable, necessary conversation about boundaries, selfhood, and breaking generational cycles—because love should liberate, not consume.

Reflection prompts:

• Do you know who you are outside of your roles?

• Where might you be taking responsibility for someone else’s emotions?

• How can you model individuality for your children while staying connected?

  
  

🌿 Re-MIND Institute Linktree
🌿 David’s Linktree (Accidental Ascension)
🌐 Website
📱 Instagram: @‌remind.institute
📘 Facebook: Re-MIND Institute

Disclaimer:
The Re-Mind Podcast shares general information about mental health, well-being, healing, and spiritual growth. This episode is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or therapy. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified professional.