I resent my child and I hate that I feel that

What to do right now

The resentment is not a failure of love. It is the accumulation of unrelenting demand on a nervous system that was not designed for this intensity. You resent the situation, not the child, even though it feels aimed at them. Name it honestly, to yourself or to a therapist. Resentment that stays hidden grows. Resentment that is named can be addressed. You are not a bad parent for feeling this. You are an exhausted one.

What your brain just did

Your body

The resentment sits alongside the love. Both are real. The guilt of feeling resentment adds weight to the resentment itself.

Your brain

Chronic unrelenting demand depletes the caregiver's emotional resources. Resentment is the signal that the demand has exceeded capacity for too long. It is not a character flaw. It is a depletion signal.

What this did

Name it to a therapist or trusted person. Resentment that stays hidden compounds. Resentment that is acknowledged can be addressed through load reduction, respite, and support.