LETTERS: Have you ever heard of toxic parents? Toxic parents are those who engage in harmful and damaging behaviours towards their children.
Common traits include controlling behaviour, verbal and physical abuse, neglect, emotional manipulation and unrealistic expectations.
Children who grow up with toxic parents often struggle with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and difficulties with trust and relationships.
When parents belittle, criticise, or neglect their children, it sends the message that they are not worthy of love and attention.
Toxic parents may also engage in emotional manipulation, using guilt or fear to control their children's behaviour.
This can lead to children feeling trapped and powerless, unable to make their own choices or pursue their own goals.
In the end, they might end up being someone who does not have a vision and mission in life.
Another trait of toxic parents is the use of physical or verbal abuse to control their children.
This can include hitting, slapping, or yelling or screaming at children even when they make small mistakes.
This type of behaviour creates a cycle of violence and aggression that can be difficult to break.
As parents, it is important to remember that our children have feelings. They need parents who can listen to them without judgment.
Parents must not belittle their children when they talk about the problems they face or even compare their children's experiences to what they had experienced as kids.
MIRRAH DIYANA MAZNUM
Lecturer,
Universiti Teknologi Mara, Perak
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times