Is it normal to dislike your adult child?
Yes, it can happen: loving your adult child and liking them as a person aren’t always the same thing. Ongoing conflict, clashing values, or hurtful behavior can make the relationship genuinely difficult.
A lot of parents feel guilty admitting this, but family ties don’t guarantee that you’ll enjoy each other’s company. You can care about your adult child and still dislike some of their choices, personality, or the way they treat you. Sometimes the feeling is tied to a particular rough patch; sometimes it points to a long-standing mismatch or unresolved hurt.
It may help to get specific about what you dislike: is it certain behavior, or do you feel contempt for them as a whole? The first can sometimes be addressed with honest conversations and boundaries. You’re allowed to limit contact or say no to behavior that hurts you, while still treating them with basic respect. If the relationship matters to you, a family therapist can help you sort through what you want from it—not because either of you has to be declared the villain.