As most people would agree, the attitude of parents towards their children at the stage of infancy helps to shape their character and outlook in life.
Unfortunately, a lot of people were raised in what can best be described as a toxic environment with less than supportive parents. Although there is no excuse for emotionally scarring one’s children, there are a few fundamental reasons why parents act out towards their children and they include;
Personal Stress/Frustration
This is the most common cause as they may be going through an overwhelming and stressful time in their lives and are not coping well. Children are an easier target to vent on because they will likely not respond back, and, since they are children, they will forgive quickly. Parents don’t often think about their children holding grudges in the future.
They Don’t Know Any Better
This is how their parents raised them and for that reason, they have equated toxic behavior as a normal relationship between parent and child. As much as we like to think that we are completely different from our parents, most of us are progressively becoming our parents. We think we only take on their angelic qualities. And yes, we often do but sometimes we also take on their bad habits too.
They Confuse Abuse With Discipline
In the Nigerian setting, this is a very rampant occurrence because many parents have unbeknownst to them, taken overly harsh actions in an attempt to “correct” their children or wards and most times, this type of abuse transcends verbal or emotional abuse and gets physical and in some cases, the results are fatal. When a crime does not fit the punishment, it is no longer discipline but abuse.
