If My Own Children Can't Forgive Me, How Dare I Forgive Myself? | Episode 009

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode!The hardest truth about parental accountability isn't admitting you were wrong-  it's living with the consequences when your own children can't trust you enough to let you back in. This is the podcast your toxic Mom doesn't want you to listen to.This week, I sit down with Crystal Allon, a mother, content creator, and recovering alcoholic who is estranged from two of her adult children. Together, we explore what real accountability looks like when your kids go no contact, not the defensive "I did my best" narrative, but the raw, honest reckoning with how your own unhealed trauma created an emotionally unsafe environment for the people you love most.Crystal shares her journey from active addiction and emotional dysregulation to recognizing the painful truth: her children felt about her the way she felt about her own toxic mother. She breaks down the "playpen analogy" that's helping other estranged parents understand boundaries, why "you can't outwit trauma, you either heal it or pass it down," and the difference between taking responsibility and playing victim.This episode will validate adult children who are tired of being told they're "too sensitive" for protecting themselves, and challenge parents to look beyond their own pain to see the damage they've caused.GuestCrystal Allon, Content Creator and Recovery AdvocateFollow her on TikTok here.Join Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the showThis is the podcast they don't want you listening to.👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with LisaJoin my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IGWatch on YouTubeGet My Books HereNew episodes drop every Tuesday.Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember:You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.