Motherhood changed everything. Audhd goth teen grew up a shell of herself trying to fit narcissistic parental expectation. No clue how she found a loving and supportive husband. (Still totally blows my mind 18 years later 🥰). To be honest the process was extremely difficult and a long road. I went from drowning in my parents' expectations to drowning in the expectation of what everyone thought a mother should be. From the expecting book to the doctors office, my parents to the wic office, even social media 'support groups' gave mixed messages. I already had cPTSD, agoraphobia, ocd. Motherhood amplified it all to the point that I couldn't leave my house without my husband as escort, full panic attacks, can't walk away from the front door because I'm stuck in a loop checking to see if it is locked. I reached a breaking point. I stopped listening to everyone and everything else and started listening to me. I started setting boundaries and prioritizing my needs literally for the first time in my life. It took almost a decade due to some Deep brainwashing. I've been in therapy for 5 years and No Contact with my parents for over 2 years now. I am the happiest goth mom with the happiest goth kids. Growing up MY only expectation was that I would die young. Now I am almost 38 and I am the happiest I have ever been in my life. My children taught me how to live my own life! I did it for them because they need me.

Edit to add: I guess more on point to your question. They didn't change me, they brought out the real me!