My daughter experienced severe postpartum depression after her first birth. She took part in a PPD program and with treatment, she improved.
Her son, now 9, has a history is extremely aggressive and destructive tantrums that have continued throughout his life. His father, possibly to make up for lack of maternal connection when he was an infant, and partly due to his personality, has provided few limits and buys lots of toys even though their debt is astronomical.
This 9 year-old's behavior has been excused at every stage. My daughter, a social worker, says he's got anxiety, and I believe her as I see signs of childhood anxiety, but I worry about his lack of self-control and aggression toward his little sister, now 5, who has been hearing his tantrums and subject to his verbal abuse and depersonalization since she was born.
I worry about how close he is to pre-adolescence and wonder if his behavior might be linked to his mother's initial rejection of him though she breastfed him and took care of all his needs, but still was depressed and had a rough time.
Is there research about links to PPD and outcomes for children in terms of behavior as they grow?
How about effective treatment options?
As an advanced social worker, my daughter thinks she has all the answers but seems to miss what's happening in her own home. I've not ever meddled or given advice, but I have background in areas that ground me in knowledge also. I've been supportive, have assisted in caring for my grandchildren whenever asked and have respected the practices of their parents, etc.
Still, I feel very worried about perils facing my grandson in terms of his long-term well-being and ability to be in close relationships as he gets older. I'll add that he is an exceptionally intelligent and interesting child and we've enjoyed caring for him greatly, tantrums aside.