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Someone very wise once said that we all come from childhood - and many of our problems that we face in adulthood actually come from there, from interactions with our parents. Interactions that, alas, often leave much to be desired...

And then, having already become adults, or even having our own kids, we too can sometimes see manifestations of a parental bad attitude in our own parenting style. And in this case, the main thing is to stop in time and think: "What am I doing now?" And this selection of parenting "red flags" from netizens may well be useful in this.

More info: Reddit

#1

Children running in a corridor, highlighting joyful play and innocence. Let's their kids run around a shop or shouting in public, especially like restaurants.

Imaginary-Donut7648 , master1305 Report

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Miss Tinker
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a Librarian I see this all the time, especially in school holidays where kids are often dumped for hours & left to their own devices. Fine if they are being responsible & quiet, but more often than not they are running around shouting, playing loud games on the public computers, pulling random books off shelves & leaving them on the floor until Mum/Dad come back to get them or are sitting nearby glued to their phone. I even had a parent ask me to set their little darling up on the computer with some games while she made herself comfortable on the couch with her phone. No, Ma’am. I am not a babysitter nor am I responsible for your child’s entertainment.

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    #2

    Two joyful kids jumping on a bed in a lively setting. They let their kids do whatever they want cause "they're just kids".

    Nathaniel66 , Getty Images Report

    #3

    Woman pointing at a child using a laptop at a table, highlighting signs of a horrible parent. If they don’t discipline their kids at the moment they do something outrageous and get mad at the ppl who do discipline their kids instead.

    If you can’t control your kids you failed as a parent, no excuses.

    SnooBeans8816 , Kaboompics.com Report

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    Lila Allen
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Had a parent in for a conference with admin and two teachers besides myself. Student began swearing at his mother. I told the student to step out and that they had detention for inappropriate language. The mom yelled at me for telling her son he couldn't call her/mom a "f*&*&^ing c*&t"

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    The original thread appeared two months ago in the AskReddit community with the question: "What instantly tells you someone is a trashy parent?" As of today, it has 3.3K upvotes and over 4K different views and thoughts from commenters. Some people simply state their point of view, some share a story from their childhood or parenting, and some just recall an incident they saw once.

    #4

    A concerned couple sits with a sad child on a couch, highlighting parenting issues. Using their kids as pawns against their SO / ex / the kids' other parent.

    tc6x6 , freepik Report

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    Dread Pirate Roberts
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was one of these kids, and it worsened my anxiety exponentially. I wasn't even 10 years old yet, and I already wanted to die. No child should have to go through that.

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    #5

    A sad child in a green shirt leans against a wall, reflecting the impact of horrible parenting. Violence against the child, not caring who preys on them.

    Rude-Consideration64 , freepik Report

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    #6

    A parent working on a laptop at a table with children drawing, highlighting signs of a horrible parent. Showing up in pajamas to parent teacher conferences. Arriving to pick their preschool or small child up from school and staying on their cell phone the entire time and not even acknowledging their child or the teacher.
    Letting your new boyfriend of three weeks watch your children or even move in with you. Having multiple partners around your children throughout their lives that you have no intention of staying with.

    ltotheizzy , freepik Report

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    Black Cat
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some women can't live without a man and they'll take anyone.

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    While each of us has our own criteria for determining what we consider "bad parenting," experts invariably point out some obvious "red flags." For example, according to this dedicated article on the Parenting Styles web portal, there are 5 main signs to detect a bad mom, dad or both:

    1. They demand blind obedience from children.

    2. They use intimidation to discipline.

    3. They don’t monitor or control a child’s deviant behavior.

    4. They deny responsibilities.

    5. They refuse to adapt.

    #7

    Young girl covering her mouth, highlighting the impact of horrible parenting behaviors. Tells their kid to "shut up," has no regard for the nutritional value of their child's diet, takes credit for what the kid does right but passes the blame for what the kid does wrong.

    BearsGotKhalilMack , bilanol Report

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    Undercover
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish some people would tell their kids to shut up more often 🙊🤐

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    #8

    Child being scolded, showcasing signs of a horrible parenting moment. Talking and yelling at your child like " stop f*****g playing with me, drop that s**t, I ain't gon tell you again, you always pissin me tf off, ima beat yo f****n a*s"

    Literally just heard an white American tell this to (I assume their child) that had to be no more than 5 to 7 years old.

    pan_rock , peoplecreations Report

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    Little Bit
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My next door neighbour is like that. She has four kids and she shouts and swears at them constantly. I once overheard her shouting at her youngest daughter, "Get the f*** out and leave me alone you f*****g b***h! The poor girl couldn't have been more than 5yo.

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    #9

    Gloved hand holding a Mountain Dew can with a scenic mountain background. Putting Mountain Dew in their 9 month old child’s sippy cup, then yelling at the child for not taking a nap. I personally witnessed this. Abhorrent behavior.

    Bellsandblooms , Evenezer Marak Report

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    In any case, if we don't take into account the most extreme situations that Child Protective Services are called upon to deal with, trashy parenting often manifests itself in two cases: if parents blatantly neglect their duties and responsibilities, or, conversely, are overly controlling. Or simply try to control.

    "Children look to parents to define what boundaries are and the consequences that can occur if the child crosses the boundaries," Health Line quotes Sharron Frederick, LCSW, a psychotherapist at Clarity Health Solutions. As a result, kids then either grow up knowing no boundaries at all, or are overly limited in all their deeds and actions. Neither is very good, you must agree.

    #10

    Man exhaling smoke with serious expression, representing signs of a horrible parent. Smoking around their children.

    apeliott , cottonbro studio Report

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    booknerd
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I worked in healthcare, parents would come in with their kids, all of them reeking of weed. Do you really need to smoke it with your kids in the car?

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    #11

    Children using smartphones on a couch, depicting a possible sign of horrible parenting. Having 5 children and none of them are in school. Eldest one is 8 years old. Always coming up with bull s**t excuses, then getting offended when being called out.

    PleasantTomato7128 , aleeenot Report

    #12

    Animated cat in a cooking pot held by a devil character, illustrating a chaotic scene. They threaten the child with burning in Hell.

    Njtotx3 , Patrick K Report

    "The saddest thing about this is not only that parents break the child's psyche with their actions, but also that such patterns tend to reproduce themselves in the future," says Maria Kryvosheeva, a psychologist and NLP coach, whom Bored Panda asked for a comment. "The fact is that many children involuntarily perceive such parenting techniques as something self-evident for their own families."

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    "As a result, when these children grow up, they sometimes can't cope with the attitudes from their childhood 'in their heads' and automatically harm their own family life. Or they simply spend long hours and days in therapy, trying to neutralize all the possible consequences of being raised by toxic parents," Maria sums up.

    #13

    Child sitting on floor, head down in distress, highlighting effects of horrible parenting. Trauma dumping.....

    Maleficent_Memory606 , ufabizphoto Report

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    #14

    A sad child in a straw hat, seated at an outdoor café, symbolizing the impact of a horrible parent. Takes their 4 year old son to a bar at 11 pm, lets their siberian husky mix run around without any supervision and when their siberian husky mix tries to bite and maul another dog, say, "well she's never done that before!"

    WORST TRASHIEST PARENT EVER OF CHILDREN AND ANIMALS!

    Artist-in-Residence- , vh-studio Report

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    #15

    Softball gear on dirt field, featuring a bat, balls, glove, and helmet. Saying their one kids sports equipment is really expensive (and getting it) while also complaining services for their adhd/autistic kid aren't free and won’t get the help they need.

    InevitableTour4 , Pixabay Report

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    Boredandsomea
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Where are services for adhd/autism not free if is regarded as necessary.

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    In any case, even if you were lucky enough and your childhood was absolutely cloudless, we think that it will still be useful for you to read this collection of stories. At least to know that there are completely different cases in life, infinitely far from perfect. And, if you see something similar in others, to know how to react in such a case. So please feel free to read and always remember: "Forewarned is forearmed!"

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    #16

    Children sitting on a couch, focused on smartphones, highlighting impact of phone addiction and parenting. I'm a HS teacher. I can tell pretty quickly in the year which kids have been raised by devices. It's alarming how more and more kids each year have phone anxiety, can't focus on any amount of work and won't interact with peers.

    UniqueUsername82D , freepik Report

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    Montanavanna
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I just had my IEP renewal appointment with my sons school. He is 1st grade and special needs. I was given compliments because he likes books and will engage greatly with them. He is about 3 years behind his peers in math and reading development but ahead in so many other areas because we emphasize books and non tech activities.

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    #17

    Child covering ears as parents argue, illustrating signs of a horrible parent. How they talk about their kids when they’re not present.

    “She’s a brat.”
    “He’s an idiot.”.

    can-opener-in-a-can , gpointstudio Report

    #18

    Parents arguing with upset child in the middle, illustrating horrible parenting. Swearing and roaring explicits on a sideline of any match.

    Darwinage , ufabizphoto Report

    #19

    Young girl on a sofa covering her mouth, illustrating effects of a horrible parent. “Children should been seen and not heard”
    “Don’t speak unless spoken to”.

    Comfortable-Ad6131 , shurkin_son Report

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    ShadeCalico
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And then they complain that their children never speak to them...

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    #20

    Woman yelling into a phone, illustrating signs of a horrible parent. Screaming down the phone at me (a teacher) calling me a c**t and to do my job.

    xFusiionx , syda_productions Report

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    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Was the parent angry because you told their blessed little cherub to shut the hell up and pay attention in class?

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    #21

    Three teenagers sitting on skateboards in front of a graffiti-covered wall, representing carefree youth. Using the word "phase" in any context regarding their children's behavior just so they don't bother teaching them right from wrong.

    Virtual_Syrup262 , olia danilevich Report

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    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
    Community Member
    3 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    All this arson is just a phase. He'll grow out of it when he discovers girls and moves into a sexual assault phase.

    #22

    Child in a high chair eating broccoli at a table, indicative of parenting habits. When they blatantly teach their kid bad habits and rude, inconsiderate behavior.

    When I was a cashier at a supermarket, I had a customer, after ringing their stuff up and giving them their receipt, tell their kid to just leave their cart next to my register because someone will collect it, anyway.

    While true, that speaks volumes as to what kind of person you are. Also, while it isn't being collected and put back in the corral, it becomes a hindrance for other customers who have carts, and could block the way for some customers if pushed aside, especially when the supermarket itself is small and narrow in terms of traversable space. I'd also end up wasting time going out of my booth and putting it back in the corral when the customer could've done all that on their own in the first place.

    btmg1428 , Kampus Production Report

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    Ellinor
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That also teaches the child to disrespect any kinds of workers, and that's just plain awful.

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    #23

    Baby sitting in a shopping cart in a store aisle, highlighting parenting choices. When they use their child for a specific purpose, to get something that they want.

    Efficient-Log8009 , Jomjakkapat Parrueng Report

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    #24

    Parent and child drawing together at a table, focusing on creativity and connection. They have no schedule for their kids or simply never follow it.

    Toxic-giant , Getty Images Report

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    Kathrin Pukowsky
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wonder what sort of schedule this is about. Having structure is a good thing, but I've heard about parents planning their child's day down to the minute, and that doesn't strike me as a good idea.

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    #25

    Children having a pillow fight on a bed, feathers flying around, creating a playful and chaotic scene. Not checking their kids behavior.

    goated95 , Allen Taylor Report

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    #26

    Adult and three kids playing with wooden train set on the floor, highlighting positive parenting. Getting a sitter so that they can go to the bar every weekend.

    FirstNameLastName918 , Andrej Lišakov Report

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    Ellinor
    Community Member
    3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If, and I said IF, the parents want alone time and don't come back home drunk as hell, then why not ?

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    Ic_polls

    Poll Question

    What are your thoughts on public criticism of a parent's choices?

    Necessary in some cases

    Acceptable

    Unnecessary

    Harmful