u/ProfessionalCall522

As a Northern European, aging millennial, I have only been vaguely familiar with Hayden Panettiere. However, I have been reading about her over the last couple of days following her untimely and tragic death. Apart from everything else, the story about her estrangement from her mother was an awfully, awfully sad read.

Reading how her mother responded to her memoir (back in May) honestly struck a nerve with me. I'm sure most of us EAC will understand what I'm talking about: https://pagesix.com/2026/05/14/parents/hayden-panettieres-estranged-mom-hits-back-at-entitled-daughters-tell-all-20-years-of-trauma/

It's all there - basically smearing her daughter's name and blaming everything on her. Just by reading this article alone, it is clear why they were estranged.

While I am sorry for her parents' loss (of two children, no less), I am more sorry for Hayden Panettiere and those who loved her. What an absolute tragedy.

Rest in peace, Hayden, and my condolences to her daughter. <3

I am the mother of two elementary school-aged boys. NC with my mother - who I believe has BPD/NPD - for two years. I am still struggling with hearing her voice in my head; she could say the meanest things to me.

I am doing my very best to be different from my mother. I'm trying to be the warm, stable, encouraging parent I never had growing up. And you know, I'm starting to see the results, and it makes me so very, very happy.

Case in point: My 9-year-old is afraid of swimming. After a swimming lesson this spring, he said: "I was afraid to put my head down in the water, but then I imagined your voice telling me that I could do it, and then I did!"

My child, apparently, hears my voice in his head... as a voice of encouragement. Not harshness, not criticism, not put-downs.

This is a huge, huge victory. And hard-won. I don't know how much money I've spent on therapy, or how many times I've felt hopeless and despondent... but the cycle seems to be broken now.

We can do it, guys ❤️

Hayden Panettiere's estrangement from her mother

Breaking the cycle