“Okay, I’m not alone”: exploring parental communicative coping through untellable tales

Abstract

Telling stories allows individuals to make sense of, and cope with, everyday life. Yet, not all tales are equally tellable. This study explores experiences of parents who possess an untellable tale of parenthood with the goal of further understanding how these narratives are utilized for coping. The grand theme of Intrapersonal Communication Strategies emerged with two sub-themes: Internal Narrative Reflection, and Internal Narrative Reframing. Interpersonal Communication Strategies emerged with four sub-themes: Tell the Untellable, Tell a Therapist, Write the Untellable, and Tell an Alternative Tale. We explicate these (sub)themes and explain how the findings further scholarship about generative and redemptive narratives, and tellability.