Raising children is one of the most challenging jobs in the world, and there isn’t a how-to book on how to do it right. While you’d like to believe your parents did the best they could with what they knew at the time, sometimes they teach lessons that cause more harm than good.
The question of which life lessons to forget that their parents taught them was posed on a recent ask women’s forum, and the answers were illuminating and heartbreaking.
“My mom takes care of everyone but herself – even when she should and has every right to say no. It’s a great quality until it affects your physical and mental health,” one respondent writes.
A commenter spent their childhood having their feelings nullified, describing how “my depressive episodes and panic attacks are just ‘being dramatic’ and that I should spend time isolating until I calm down.”
Many children could only leave the kitchen or dining room table after eating everything on their plates. This approach can give a child an unhealthy relationship with food and be the start of poor eating habits.
A common mantra among parents who wish to emphasize independence, one commenter describes how they believe, “Asking for help is akin to saying you’ve failed.” Asking for help is a sign of courage, not weakness.