People Open Up About The Most Hurtful Things Their Parents Ever Said To Them
Recently, a Reddit user who goes by the username Few_Reading_4822 took to the internet to ask people, "What is the most toxic thing a parent can say to a child?" The people of Reddit were quick to respond with stories of childhood trauma.
So many people opened up with stories about the harmful things their parents said to them when they were younger. Keep reading to see some of the worst things a parent can say to their kid.
Moving Without You
"We're moving and you're not welcome"
"This is what my dad said to me while blackout drunk after he took my sister's pizza that I made, ate it in front of me, and then threw the pizza at me after I asked him why he's like that and walked away. We were supposed to be moving to a new place the next couple weeks after this fight." —LiaLovesCookies
The Art Of Co-Parenting
"In my experience, divorced parents that say stuff like :
"Don't talk about that to your [other parent]" "Tell your [other parent] this" "Your [other parent] is trying to manipulate you." "You see what [other parent] did?" It really screws with the kid's head." —Loa_Ex_Machina
Constructive Criticism
"'So you're saying that I'm a bad parent' in response to any form of help-seeking or constructive criticism was the worst for me." —DerpCheiftain
Learn to take constructive criticism, even If it comes from your children.
Sibling Rivalry
"Constantly comparing you with your older siblings, and extremely different treatment.
It makes you feel inferior to them and like no matter how much you try or do, it will never be enough." —mo95z
High Expectations
"'I gave up everything I liked for you', '95? Why not 100?' 'Why can't you be like so and so's child, they do <one impressive thing>."
A bit subtler than the top comments here but can eat a child's self-worth and guilt them well into adulthood and pass by standard alarms." —Average_jaded_guy
Just Like Dad
"Talk s*** about the other parent then compare you to them. "You're just like your father!" —nbryan88
This doesn't seem like a very healthy way to communicate with your child.
Fantasy Vs. Reality
"It may not be as harsh as other things stated but the dreaded 'It's all in your head/you are just imagining it."
As it turned out I wasn't imagining it and now I struggle to differentiate what's real and what's not because I was led to believe I thought I was imagining things constantly." —Missing_Maestos
A Reminder
"My mom likes to remind me every so often that my dad never wanted kids, and he told her that if she wanted them she would have to quit working and stay home to raise them.
So two-in-one: my dad didn't actually want me, and I ruined the career my mom loved." —porkchopsquats
A Fight Over Tomato Sauce
"That I'm f*** useless and can't do s*** because I couldn't open a jar of tomato sauce for my mom at 1am." —ianKenzo
She must have really wanted that tomato sauce.
Stay In School
"After I got accepted to my dream college my mom told me I'm too stupid to actually go and succeed.
I graduated high school with honors. but I thought she was right. I dropped out before I even went. still regret it." —rad_butt
The Right Attitude
"My drunken father once told me, "You'll never be the man that I am." I remember thinking, "You're damn right I won't be." —p38lighting
This is the right attitude to have when faced with a narcissistic parent.
Stop Comparing
"If your parents comparing you to others or they are insensitive to their actions.
My friend's parents always compare him(my friend) to his older brother, and it messes him up so much that he has low self-confidence." —xayonx3
Speak Up
"I had and have some speaking problems where I can't motivate my mouth opening enough to let the words out.
One day in an argument with my father, he told me that I should learn to speak. That really hurts especially from your father." —Juppidupp
No Rights
"you don't have the right to privacy", "you are a child, you have no rights",
"at least I'm putting a roof over your head", "I wish I never had you". —TennisonWii
2nd Place
"When I was a wee child playing star wars pod racers on the Nintendo 64 I finally got 2nd place in one of the races I had been losing on for weeks. I was so pumped about it! I ran to tell my mother and she said "Wow! Ya know second place is the first loser."
My dreams were crushed." —2intheAMDaddy
Issues With Food
"My mother told me when I was 8, that nobody likes a fat girl. I wasn't even really overweight. That and many other things she said and did made me develop an eating disorder...at the age of 8.
More than 30 years later, and a lot more mental abuse, I still struggle with the whole eating thing." —WhiteGirlGrooves
