Warning signs that you’re the toxic parent your kids fear
It’s the buzzword that has launched a thousand Pinterest inspirational quotes: Toxic relationships.
People love to take to social media to announce that they’re done with it all.
They’re eliminating the gossips, narcissists, selfish jerks and thoughtless friends from their lives, all in the name of “eliminating toxicity.” But have you ever stopped to wonder if maybe you’re a toxic person… maybe even a toxic parent to your kids? It happens a lot more frequently than you’d guess.
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SheKnows spoke to four mental health and relationship experts to find out which parental behaviors have the potential to damage the relationship parents have with their children.
First, it helps to have a definition of “toxicity” to work off of, since the term has come to encompass a whole slew of unhealthy relationship tactics. “Toxicity within this context would mean behaviors that are transmitted unto children that could potentially cause them direct or indirect harm,” says licensed marriage and family specialist Kingsley Grant.
Modeling healthy relationship dynamics is absolutely vital. “[Our children] are a reflection of us,” Grant notes. “Remember, their actions are learned, and they are mostly learned from those who are most influential in their lives — namely, parents.”
So what kind of actions could cause a child direct or indirect harm? “If you curse at your children or yell at them in a way that when you’re done, you suddenly realize you lost your temper… this is a sign that you’re overwhelmed, out of control and don’t have an appropriate outlet for your feelings.” says April Masini, relationship expert and author. Masini warns extreme displays of emotion are one of the more obvious signs that a parent has a toxic relationship with their child.
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Even if you aren’t flying off the handle at your children as a conflict-resolution technique, they’re still learning from you. That means that your kids are looking to their parents, so if mom and dad have knock-down drag-outs, they notice.
“These children will not know that there are alternative ways to manage conflicts because this is all they know and have learned,” says Grant. “Their use of this approach in conflictual situations could lead to being hurt physically, emotionally or mentally. It could also lead to disciplinary issues in school.”
Anger might seem like an obvious sign of toxicity, but it isn’t just screaming that parents should avoid. Turning your kids into a shoulder to lean on is another problematic sign of toxic parenting.
“If you weep in front of your children, regularly, as a victim, you’re in a toxic relationship with them,” Masini notes. “Learn to ask for help so you don’t act out. You shouldn’t suppress your feelings, but you do need to find an appropriate outlet and support for them. Your kids should not be that.”
In fact, recognizing what is and isn’t part and parcel of a healthy parent-child relationship is key to eliminating toxic behavior. If you find yourself habitually confiding in your kids or hoping they’ll alleviate your stress, that’s not a good sign, says Meredith Silversmith, MA, LMFT and owner of Nassau Wellness, a private practice in Long Island, New York.
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“For example, a parent has a fear of flying, and when their child talks about taking a trip on a plane, [a toxic parent will] share their concerns and anxieties because it’s too uncomfortable to think about their child being on a plane,” says Silversmith. “Over time, the child can take on these worries as their own and carry them for their parent.”
Expecting a child to take on an adult role like that is unhealthy and will likely cause more problems down the road. So, too will the common — and often well-meaning — mistake that parents make when they project their own aspirations and shortcomings onto kids, instead of allowing them to be individuals.
“When a baby is born, parents have so many hopes and wishes for their future and for their life. As this child gets older, becomes more independent… it can be challenging for some parents to adapt,” Silversmith explains. “In these situations, a parent may continually push a child to follow his or her (the parent’s) dreams or a parent may speak and act as if his or her wishes and interests are the child’s, even in the face of other information. Under these circumstances, the child may begin to feel their needs and desires are not important.”
These are all great examples of broader toxic behaviors, but we can get even more specific. Since a lot of parents are only doing or saying what they think is best for their kids, it can be hard to check yourself — especially if nothing seems out of the ordinary.
Next up: Toxic behaviors that every parent should avoid
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