Have your children ever behaved so badly that you weren’t sure you loved them?

I am not a parent, and as I ask this question, I am not judging anyone who has been through what I am going to ask.

Have you ever been so upset with your child’s behavior that you weren’t sure you loved them? I’m not talking about a child who has done anything heinous. Behavior that, while terrible, is not unheard of. I’ve heard parents talk about being extremely angry, feeling hopeless about terrible behavior, not liking their child at that moment, and being at a breaking point of frustration. Never, until today, have I ever heard anyone say they don’t think they love their children. Even after trying to clarify that deep inside she loves her kids, she said, “No, I’m really not sure I do.”

The “she” in this case is my co-worker. I’m not going into the details because I’m just trying to fathom not loving your children. Or even thinking that you don’t. Anyone?