Signs That Identify You As Bullying Parent

Signs That Identify You As Bullying Parent

Do you know that bullying not only takes place at work or school but also at home too? Yes, you read it right! Being a bullying parent is a negative feature of our society; therefore, we must identify them in time and do our best to handle the situation.

While parents are supposed to protect their children and keep them safe, some parents, due to some reason or another, lack the emotional intelligence to maintain control. They end up bullying their child without even realizing it.

Signs that identify you as a Bullying Parent:

Sharing with you few critical signs that will help you identify if you are a bullying parent or not:

Act physically to ensure discipline 

Bullying parents’ main characteristic is to use physical means to discipline their children. Do you often spank or slap your child instead of being gentle and understanding? Parents believe physical force might get their child in line; however, it only brings short-term discipline and not long-term good behavior.

Blackmailing using emotional means

Be it any bully, emotional bullying is unknowingly the most preferred way to bully a person. Bullying parents often humiliate, tease, mock, threaten or insult their child making things worse. Emotional bullying lowers the self-esteem of a child and shatters their confidence.

Forcing your kids towards guilt-traps

Do you send your children on guilt trips hoping they will self-discipline themselves? If you blame or shame your children to make them comply with a request or demand, you must stop immediately.

Bullying with negations

Negations may include negative comments regarding their skills, preferences, or anything they say. Children are more sensitive than adults, and parental bullying using negations may seriously impact their mental health.

 Invalidating the emotion of a child

Do you often invalidate your child’s emotions or opinions? Then, be alert because this is a big sign that you are acting like a bully parent. Parents must let their children communicate openly with them and let them express their opinions instead of invalidating them.

Encouraging Social Malpractices

Parents who allow social malpractices do understand that you are no less than bullying parents. For example, if you constantly body shame your children because of the foul society around you, you might not know this, but your children may feel unwanted and less loved. Comparing your kid with other children for academic performance, looks, or; other things fall under social malpractice.

What can you do to stop being a bullying parent?

If you have the signs mentioned above of a bully parent, then here are some steps that might help you stop being a bully parent:

Adopt Authoritative parenting

Authoritative parenting style lets your child feel self-reliant and independent within the limits you set.

Be the parent you wanted your parents to be

 Do not repeat the way your parents treated you in your childhood for your children. Be the parents you always wanted.

Work on Self-control

 If you use physical force on your children, learn self-control. Never be aggressive in front of your children for small things.

Model the behavior you want from your kids

 Children often see their parents as role models and behave the same way. Acting abusively, aggressively, or antisocially in front of your children does more harm than you think.

However, always remember that there is no particular style of parenting. It is advisable to consider the consequences of your bullying behavior toward your children.

Final Words:

Children who suffer from parental bullying tend to show aggressive behavior, achieve less, have lower self-esteem, and may become self-destructive.

As a parent, you must know your responsibilities to provide a safe and independent environment for the child to grow. Your child must feel trustable and be open to you. You must provide adequate emotional and physical understanding and support to your children. Always be sensitive and responsive while setting some limits for them.

What’s your opinion on Bullying parent? Any personal experience that you want to share? Share your opinions in the comment section.

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Mads’ Cookhouse.