Parenting is one of the most important factors that shape a child, and their future. Kids are very impressionable and they need to be raised with good parenting practices. The sad reality, however, is some parents enforce unhealthy or even cruel parenting methods and it can affect children deeply. Reddit user u/ViForYourAttention asked “What screams 'I’m a bad parent?' and many responded with their take, with some even reflecting on their own parents' choices. Here are 15 parents' responses that caught our attention:
Using your kid as therapy and then getting upset when they have issues regulating their emotions. u/kenlycake
2. Zero interest in the kid
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Zero interest in the kid. Doesn’t care what they do or what happens to them as long as they don’t inconvenience them. u/JustinChristoph
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3. Showing attention only when they do what you want
Only caring for the child when they do what you want them to do. For example, if they play the sport you want them to play. u/Taoistandroid
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4. Saying “yes” to everything
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Not believing in telling your children “no”. The world will and should tell them “no” at times. They need to be prepared for that reality, or they will be an absolute menace to everyone around them. u/heyitsvonage
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5. Not learning to apologize to the kids
Parents who can’t apologize to a child. It’s ok to have human emotions and moments to be triggered or struggling and lash out or be wrong but for the love of all things good APOLOGIZE AND CHANGE. u/elizabethhill82
6. Your kids fear you
Your own children being afraid of you, no child should be afraid of the person that looks after them nearly 24/7. u/Dependent_Noise_6249
7. Invalidating your child’s struggles
Invalidating your child's feelings, struggles, and/or mental illness in favor of "you don't know what struggling really is" or some form of "back in my day" or "you kids are so weak". You have just robbed your child of support, told them their feelings do not matter and informed them that you are not a safe person to confide in. u/Acetamnophen
8. Yelling at kids
My mother used to get up in my face and yell at me for trivial things. She would also spit on me while yelling. Yelling at a kid is traumatic for the kid. Don’t do it. There are better ways to communicate than yelling. u/rainbowblack79
9. Giving the silent treatment
Punishing adult children when they don't do everything you say by silent treatment or nasty texts. ..days later acting like nothing happened. Saying, "you never let go of things." u/kabive2044
10. Sharing your kid's secrets with other adults
IDK if this really screams it, but I absolutely hate when adults tell other adults their children’s shameful secrets for no reason. even strangers! it tells me those children probably don’t feel like they can trust their parents. u/50637
11. Dismissing your child’s opinions
Automatically dismissing and invalidating many of your child’s opinions because you think since they’re a child, they don’t know anything. Yes, they’re not always right, but they’re still people and should be treated with respect. u/rudderrun
12. Using kids to gain popularity
Using them as props/gain for your Youtube channel. u/Strong-Notice-1902
13. Ignoring the kids
Remember: The opposite of love isn't hated. It's indifference. If you see kids being neglected or ignored, or not cared about at all, that's a good indication that their parent/s aren't good. u/vpsj
14. Being the helicopter parent
Let your kids experience failure, let them make mistakes, and let them get hurt (mildly). That is how they learn. Let them make their own choices (you don’t have to let them choose which of 20 shirts they want to wear, but give them 2-3 appropriate options and let them choose.). u/SafetyMan35
15. Not letting the kids talk their way out
Not letting your kid talk to their doctor. I tried talking to my doctor twice about trouble falling asleep. At both appointments, my dad would cut me off and tell the doctor "it's just because he plays video games". The doctor would shrug and nothing was done. u/RawBeefOverlord
Reference:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/zuzhgo/what_screams_im_a_bad_parent/
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