In 10 years, you won't remember that time your kid acted out due to anger, but they'll remember how you grounded them and took away something they held near and dear to them when they didn't even understand how what they did was wrong. In 5 years, you won't remember that time your kid didn't finish dinner, but they'll remember how you freaked out and screamed at them over it. In a year, you won't remember that time your kid got a bad grade on their test, but they'll remember how you threatened to punish them because of it. In a month, you won't remember that time your kid was crying over what you perceived as nothing, but they'll remember how you snapped at them to quit crying over nothing, even though it wasn't "nothing" to them. In a week, you won't remember that time your kid accidentally spilled some of their food on the ground, but they'll remember how you harshly scolded them for it. In a day, you won't remember that time your kid spilled some water on themselves, but they'll remember how you roughly told them to go change their clothes in a hostile tone. In an hour, you won't remember that time your kid tried to talk to them when you were in a bad mood, but they'll remember how you looked at them funny and spoke in a hostile tone, even if you didn't necessarily mean to. The axe forgets, but the tree remembers. To you, it was Tuesday. To them, it was a major event in their life. You're not dealing with a pet or a science project, you're dealing with a literal human being. The smallest f**k-up from you could lead to the biggest f**k-up to their mental health. You yelled at your kid for crying? Congrats. They're gonna grow up scared to express any emotions and likely end up self harming because that's the only way they know how to let their emotions out without screaming or crying or being a "burden". You harshly criticized your kid's drawings? Congrats. They're gonna grow up with a fear of judgement that's so crippling that it's likely they'll never make friends because they only talk to people if it's forced. You were aggressive to your kid a few times? Congrats. They're gonna adopt those behaviors and grow up with anger issues. You ignored your kid a lot and just let cartoons and toys raise them? Congrats. Now they're gonna grow up isolating themselves.
