It goes without saying that raising kids is hard. It takes patience, effort, and a whole lot of responsibility, and even the best parents make mistakes along the way. But that’s just part of the job. Having a tough day or feeling overwhelmed is never an excuse to treat your children horribly.

Unfortunately, not everyone seems to understand that. Below, we’ve rounded up posts showing moms and dads whose downright awful behavior proves just how badly they’ve failed their kids. Scroll down to check them out.

#1 My Mother Dearest, Whom My Sister And I Just Let Back Into Our Lives, Talking To My Sister About Her Daughter (My Niece). Behold The Kind Of Person She Is

#2 Should've Stayed At Home

#3 I Feel Like This Applies A Lot For The Parents On Here

Anyone who’s been up at 3 a.m. with a feverish toddler knows parenting isn’t a walk in the park. In fact, 62% of American parents say raising kids turned out to be harder than they’d expected, and 41% feel tired all or most of the time.

Between the endless laundry and trying to remember which kid has soccer practice on Tuesday, it’s easy to see why so many moms and dads feel stretched thin. Still, children never asked to be born. Once adults decide to bring a little one into the world, looking after them becomes their job.

#4 This Mom, Who Borrowed Her Daughter's Car And Then Weirdly Refused To Return It When Her Daughter Needed It

#5 Mom Just Asked Me For 600$ When I Work A Minimum Wage Job Then Tells Me To Stop Spending ???

#6 Wow, Passive Aggressive Much Mom?

That job involves much more than putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads. Kids need someone who will hug them when they’re upset, teach them right from wrong, and help them make sense of the world.

Yet some parents react to the smallest mistakes as if their children have done something unforgivable. A spilled glass of juice or a broken plate can turn into a full-blown shouting match, leaving a child scared of doing anything wrong.

Repeatedly yelling at or shaming children can lead to more behavioral problems and emotional difficulties, when what they really need is patience and guidance to learn from their mistakes.

#7 My Dad Gave Away My Cat A Couple Months After I Moved Out. He Refuses To Tell Me Where He Is. I Can't Persue Legal Action Because I'm 14 And He Was In Legal Ownership

#8 The Nerve Of This Mom

#9 Because His Kid Didn't Do Homework?

The truth is, harsh punishments are often the easier way out when it comes to getting children to behave. After all, being screamed at or threatened with consequences can be frightening, so kids may quickly learn to do as they’re told to avoid getting into trouble.

But that obedience comes at a cost. In the long run, instead of helping children grow into confident, independent adults, such treatment can leave them with difficulties that follow them well into adulthood.

#10 Insane Parents Destroy Their Child’s Art Tablet For... Not Getting Up On Time

#11 Teachers Should Also Have To Wipe Children’s Behinds

#12 Mom That Kicked Me Out And Filed Police Report On Me Found My Email Address

I'm so triggered right now. Im not sure how many people remember me, but I've been posting off and on here for almost 6 years now. My mom kicked me out over 2 years ago. I'm a sophomore in college now. Just last year she filed a police report on me trying to get me arrested because my old identity (I changed my name) got leaked and someone started trying to open bank accounts in my name which mail got sent to her address. She then filed a police report against me saying I was commiting fraud???? And it got dropped that same day. Now months later she sends me this. What's so funny is I'm a trans man who's had a hysterectomy and I'm about to get bottom surgery here soon so the fact she's projecting me being pregnant (because I'm now the age she got pregnant with me) is pitiful.

For example, some parents think controlling every aspect of their teenager’s life will keep them out of trouble. But when a teen gets interrogated or punished for telling the truth, they may quickly learn that keeping their mouth shut is much easier. They’ll likely still do things their parents disapprove of, just without telling them.

A 2024 study found that teenagers with more controlling parents became less willing to share details about their lives over time. As a result, if something genuinely dangerous happens, their parents might be the last people they turn to for help.

#13 An Insane Mom

#14 Essential Oils Don’t Work

#15 A Friend Of Mine Who’s 27 Years Old

A kid who’s taught to obey their parents without question can easily turn into an adult who keeps their head down when they really should speak up.

In the classroom, they might be too scared to disagree with a teacher or ask for help when they’re falling behind. At work, they may never find the courage to request a promotion or tell their boss that expecting replies to emails at 9 p.m. is completely unreasonable.

Research supports these concerns. One study linked controlling parenting to lower confidence in one’s own abilities, while another found that young adults with overinvolved parents reported more self-doubt about their career choices.

#16 My Mum Has Damage A Number Of My My Most Valuable Paintings 2 Days Before I Was Taking Them To A Market To Sell

I am genuinely still mid meltdown lol. But I am an artist and I have a small market the day after tomorrow and when gathering my works I've just found that my mum has jammed ALL my work into a small crevice. Because of how tightly she's don't this, a lot of paint has been scraped off my work. They aren't all viable paintings as in my rookie haste a few years ago I varnished them with modpoge, but these are works that means a lot to me. Some of the paintings I consider to be my best work ever and that I have won prizes for are now just completely unsellable. And literally every painting that has ever earned me any recognition is all scraped up. I could theoretically fix them but some of them I finished over a year ago and worked in a long series of glazes and optical mixing so it would just take forever. Though, I did manage to fix one but as it is an oil painting it won't be try for the weekend. I'm so upset that she's treated my work so poorly leading to this. Previously I have never paint just be scraped off the canvas and I am not someone who I particularly careful with their work beyond not doing anything that's literally just gonna ruin them. I am so upset but I guess this is just how life goes.

#17 I Synced My Calendar With My Mum And Forgot I Have My Birth Control Implant Replacement Date Marked 3 Years From Now. She Saw It And Texted Me This While I Was At Work. I’m 20

#18 Just A Cold

The same goes for their personal lives. When a parent constantly belittles them or throws things across the room in a fit of anger, a child slowly learns that this is just how people who love you act.

So years later, when a partner disrespects them or a friend keeps treating them like an afterthought, setting boundaries or walking away from that toxic relationship can feel incredibly hard.

Studies have found that kids who got hit and rarely felt loved at home are more likely to end up with a violent partner later on. Growing up being torn down emotionally has also been tied to a higher chance of getting hurt again as an adult.

#19 It’s A Hard No For Me

#20 For Context: I Didnt Want To Go Over To My Dads House Because I Had Overtime At Work. Then My Stepmom Had To 'Interfere.'

#21 My Dad (Who Is Overweight) Has Shamed My Sister (Who Are Not Overweight) And I For Everything We Eat Growing Up Is Now Trying To Shame Me For Feeding My 5 Week Old Formula

Also told me I was on the wrong track taking “substances” during my pregnancy which were actually prenatal vitamins

Meanwhile, children whose parents listen to their side of the story and treat a broken vase as an accident rather than a crime may grow into adults who are more comfortable standing up for themselves.

They might have an easier time telling their manager that a last-minute weekend shift doesn’t work for them or ending a first date early when the other person starts making rude comments about the waiter.

A long-term study of nearly 4,000 people found that those who grew up with warm, affectionate parents reported greater happiness and self-acceptance by middle age. They also tended to have stronger social connections and were less likely to experience depression or report substance use.

#22 My Dad Asked Me Why I'm Visiting My Mom More Than Him, And I Told Him It's Because He Refuses To Turn On The Air In His House Is Too Hot To Be In During The Day. He Said It Wasn't Hot

#23 My Mom Erased Part Of The World While Cleaning My Globe

#24 Parents "React" To Their 6 Year Old's Report Card For Views

Ultimately, children carry the lessons they learn at home into the rest of their lives. The way they’re spoken to and the support they receive can influence how they see themselves and relate to others.

And while no parent can get everything right, everyone has the opportunity to reflect on their behavior and do better. After all, the goal is to raise happy, confident children who feel loved and are prepared to make their own way in the world.

#25 My Father Tracking Me While I’m On A Date

#26 God Forbid He Learns To Cook

#27 My Mom Didn’t Want Me Go See A Doctor

#28 She Has A Son Who’s So Well-Behaved, She’s Going To Punish Him For A Pack Of Ramen… That He Cooked Himself

#29 My Dad Is Refusing To Give Me My Insurance Money

#30 Mom Told Me She Was Going To The Store And Said She’d Be Back By 9pm. She Never Went To The Store And Was At The Bar For 6 Hours

#31 My Mom Thinks Im On Substances Because I Left The Toilet Seat Up And Got A C In One Class

#32 Babes, She’s 6 Months Old…

#33 Kid Won't Eat? Just Yell!

#34 Need To Urinate? Hand Your Baby To A Random Stranger In The Public Restroom!

#35 Imagine Thinking Your Baby Is This Invincible

#36 My Mother-In-Law Gave Us All COVID. Tested Positive And Never Told Us

#37 When You Call Them Out For Wanting Sympathy For Avoiding Their Texts

#38 I Guess Some People Never Learn That Their Kids Are Separate People Who Deserve Autonomy Smh

#39 Never Thought My Mom Was That Insane But I Guess Jesus Is Anti-Metal Straw. Sorry If It Doesn't Seem Serious, I Can't Take Anything Seriously

#40 Just.. Don't Turn It On ?

#41 This Mom Who Refuses To Cut Grapes In Half Because Their Kid Has Never Choked Before

#42 Was Suggested To Post This Here. My Dad Volunteered Me To Read At Church At 6 Am. He Also Refuses To Use My New Name

#43 This Dad, Who Had Zero Boundaries And Didn't Take No For An Answer When His Son Refused To Grab Breakfast With Him

#44 What?

#45 My Mum And Our Brand New Security System

#46 Is It Ok If My Toddler Shares The Same Eating Disorder As The Rest Of The Family?

#47 You Might Have A Drinking Problem If

#48 These Were In Response To A Mom Saying She Accidentally Gave Her Infant Gatorade

#49 Kicked Out Because I Got My 3rd Tattoo

#50 Tough Love, For Sale

#51 My Dad Called Me Almost 350 Times, Then Decides To Use A Relative's Recent Passing Away As Leverage. This Is Over Me Packing For School

#52 My Dad Nags My Mother To Cook Everyday, And When She Makes The Food, He Takes It Upstairs And Only Eats A Couple Bites... And Wastes The Rest

#53 My Dad Trying To Find A File

#54 My Mom Casually Using Netflix On Two Screens At Once So Nobody Else Can Watch Anything

#55 27.7k People Believe This Is The Potato Drawing Out The Fever And Not Oxidizing... These Poor Kids

#56 My Mother, After She Kicked Me Out When She Found Letters My Girlfriend Wrote For Me (We're Both Girls)

#57 My Boyfriend's Father Passed Away And My Dad Is Jealous That I Drive To Visit BF And His Mom (Who Is Alone For The First Time In 30 Years) Instead Of Visiting His Narcissistic Self

#58 Brothers And Sister Chipped In To Get My Mom A Nice Set Of Kitchen Knives, Dad Used The Chef Knife To Pry Frozen Meat Apart And Cracked It

#59 How My Step Dad Decided To Close A Box Of Cereal After Eating Edibles Last Night

60 Examples Of Terrible Parenting Nearly Making Us Forget About Such A Thing As “Unconditional Love”