Many Indian families believe in ‘tough love’ while raising kids. We have often been subjected to mean behavior and the occasional flying chappal from our parents. However, there is a fine line between trying to discipline a kid and downright being toxic.
People online have been discussing the various things parents say to kids which might seem basic but are actually problematic. A Twitter user named Anjali asked, “What is the most toxic thing a parent could say to a child?”
What is the most toxic thing a parent could say to a child?
— Anjali B. (@TheWayfarerSoul) August 25, 2021
And many had their answers ready. From “I regret having you” to “You won’t be able to do anything in life”, here’s what some of them revealed:
I regret having you
— Jiny (@Velvetyvirgo) August 25, 2021
A little girl grazed her face badly on the metalled road while saving a younger sibling from getting hurt. Father looked at her and said, “How will we marry you off if you scar your face?”
That was all the father said.— namita🌠 (@namitaj68) August 26, 2021
I dont know about most toxic, but these were up there. Being told as a child,
* they wanted to give you up for adoption when you were born
* they made all their mistakes raising me when growing up, but did a better job with how my brother turned out— Meike🚀 Trans prejudice costs lives💔 105k WIP (@MeikeTorkelson) August 25, 2021
You will never amount to anything…
— Mark J Bunting SOD’EM 48% 👍 (@Poorboy55) August 25, 2021
Many also mentioned how parents say they spend a lot of money on their kids, which is actually a very toxic thing to mention.
I clothe and feed you so… should never come out of parents mouth for a child. Or get out of the house knowing well enough the child has no place to go. You will never amount to anything. Your sister is prettier. I have a whole bag full of them.
— reader_giggles (@reader_giggles) August 25, 2021
Ye jindagi me kuch nhi kar sakti
— Sairandhri (@Yagyaseni78) August 25, 2021
Silent treatment, more than the constant barrage of hurtful things said, would go on for weeks.
Anything “+ive” I achieved was because of who they were. Anything “-ive” was entirely my doing.
I was made to feel a burden when I needed their help.#UnlovedandUnlovable
— DailyWhinehouse🍷 (@MarciaPuth) August 25, 2021
That you were a mistake..
— Shreela Roy (@sredits) August 25, 2021
“You can never achieve this. Tere se na ho payega…”
It also feels so depressing to see parents venting out their frustrations on kids and verbally/physically abusing them.
— Adyasha (@ArdourDriven) August 25, 2021
Parents also end up fat-shaming kids sometimes.
Kitna khaye ga
— RJ NASIR (@radionasir) August 25, 2021
You were brought into this world only for the older sibling to not feel lonely growing up
You were a mistake
We would have been able to provide the older sibling with a lot more luxuries if you weren’t born— cutie (@acnymph) August 26, 2021
tere saare dost badtameez hai 🥺
— Arpit Sharma 👳🏻♂️ (@CholeyBhaturre) August 25, 2021
“Pata nahi pyada kyon kiya” 🤦🏻♂️
— Capt_Ck (@Capt_Ck) August 25, 2021
Some others highlighted how parents think hitting a child is also a form of love.
Hitting a child and then saying ”this hurts me more than it hurts you”. Also, ”you’ll regret this when I’m gone”. Piling on guilt and a sense of loss on a child.
— Jyoti Singh (@synchronise1857) August 26, 2021
“Why can’t you be like ——“ or the like. Sets them up to continually compare themselves to other people using false parameters and find themselves wanting. Forever.
— Angel Nichols (@Angel_Nichols) August 25, 2021
“As long as you live under my roof…”
“No gratitude for all the money we spent on you”— Medical meerakill (@Meeraawr1) August 25, 2021
1. Get out of MY HOUSE
2. Am I your father OR your my FATHER— ExploreAdventurously || Rejuvenate🇮🇳 (@chalnikalpade) August 25, 2021
Have you been told something by your parents that were terribly hurtful? Tell us.