ListNook

Potential_Eye9063 Mar 28, 2026 +212

Talking shit about their kid to other adults right in front of them. "Oh he's so lazy, he never listens." Cool, now your kid just learned they're not worth defending

212

Wonderful_Kale_7995 Mar 28, 2026 +37

Fully agree. But also just sharing every single personal detail when the kid is clearly embarassed. Like ya I don't need to know.

37

jaskmackey Mar 28, 2026 +23

Also telling embarrassing stories about the kids. Parents who do this are absolute dicks.

23

Adventurous-Party848 Mar 28, 2026 +137

Fat shaming their own children. The world is going to be judgemental enough without your own parents adding to it and ruining your self esteem.

137

NotsoGoodSword Mar 28, 2026 +23

I was sick with flu once. I was already on my late 20s at that point. Gained weight due to hormonal imbalance. My mom's unprompted first sentence to me was, "When are you going back to the gym?"

23

AffectionateLeg1970 Mar 28, 2026 +8

Ugh I have one of these too. Had gestational diabetes while pregnant and was determined to manage it with diet and exercise instead of meds. I was eating so low carb and working out so much that I lost weight during the third trimester of pregnancy… which is wild. My mom said “so are you going to keep doing this after you have the baby?” (knowing the gestational diabetes go away once you give birth). Uh, thanks mom.

8

itisclosetous Mar 28, 2026 +7

I had a slender student whose mother is always on a diet. She goes on a fast and has her daughter fast with her. It's revolting. Kid was exhibiting signs of eating disorder at 11. Her 13yo "boyfriend" told me about the fasting in a panic because he was so worried about her. (Not considered DCYF worthy at the time, guys. I know the laws, communicated how and what I could already)

7

LouBloomCEOofVPN Mar 28, 2026 +12

I'd say even worse than that is letting your kid get fat and not teaching them to eat well and care about their health from an early age.

12

Lemon-Flower-744 Mar 28, 2026 +8

My mum has a clear eating disorder. When my sister and I were growing up, my mum banned all snack foods - crisps, cookies, chocolate etc. I went to my friends house as a teen, and was shocked that she was able to just help herself to all these snacks readily available to her without having to ask first. If I wanted a snack, I had to ask my mum first or my dad before helping myself to a banana or god forbid bread and butter, my dad would slap my stomach saying "aren't you fat enough already?" My mum would say "dinners soon. You'll ruin it if you have a snack." She also used to say all the time to my sister and I "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." I was a UK size 12 but I was made to feel I was a size 24!! When I moved out, what happened? I ballooned because I was eating all these snacks, unhealthy treats, eating a pizza etc. Not all of it is my parents fault but there was no need for them to be the way they were when I was a growing f****** child. I watch them with my nephew now and give him whatever he wants. A full Easter egg? Go for it! "Oh he's a growing young lad." Oh so because he's a boy he can have all the snacks in the world but cause I was a lil girl, I had to starve and be skinny.

8

gansi_m Mar 28, 2026 +144

When a parent doesn’t apologize when they’re wrong.

144

ArtistLovely Mar 28, 2026 +26

or when their version of apologizing is buying you something, like snacks. it's indirectly saying that, "hey, I'm not gonna apologize verbally, so here's something you like so you'll forgive me, and if you don't, that's not my problem."

26

Trickster9993 Mar 28, 2026 +2

My wife does this… should I be concerned…

2

Classic_Report_973 Mar 28, 2026 +1

You should communicate with her that that’s not healthy resolve. It’s sweeping issues under the rug.

1

ArtistLovely Mar 28, 2026

i doubt it. i only say this because my mom does it after doing something especially mean and can't (won't) apologize. it's not inherently a bad thing, but if the person in question just REFUSES to apologize, then yeah, it's a bit annoying after awhile.

0

Technical_Bottle8951 Mar 28, 2026 +5

I picked this up from my family which I'm no contact with. I remember so many times waiting curled up ass and thighs burning from my ass whooping with whatever she got her hands on fast enough. Then like four hours later door would open, "I made dinner are you coming to eat?" Got in a fuss with my husband, got mad. Realized I was in the wrong and started making him something to eat. Stopped and was like oooo f***. Started also telling myself it's part of the apology it isn't the full apology until I open my mouth with I'm sorry and change my behaviour after. We pick up shit without even realising it till we're stuck in a cycle we never enjoyed being in.

5

BookLuvr7 Mar 28, 2026 +1

Or just "explaining" their actions rather than giving an actual apology.

1

Mountain_Alps_7601 Mar 28, 2026 +1

gifts instead of accountability

1

Lurakya Mar 28, 2026 +6

Absolutely, it is so horrible. Because of that I always over apologized as a kid. Then, when I turned into an adult I realized how horribly unfair it is and that I deserve to also be apologized to when I got wronged. My mom still does that and eventhough I do love her a lot. It just made me never want to apologize to her again, since, clearly, she's not into that kind of thing.

6

Depths_of_Light Mar 28, 2026 +49

Having no boundaries with their kids.

49

bella_shadows Mar 28, 2026 +173

When their kid is scared of them instead of feeling safe around them :(

173

sleepykeira Mar 28, 2026 +6

Ugh, yes, I feel that so much. A child should feel safe and loved by their parents, not nervous or walking on eggshells around their parents. If their first reaction is fear, well, that speaks volumes on how they are raising their children, and honestly, it’s heartbreaking to even think about this situation. Safe space is important, and this is especially true at home.

6

souryoungthing Mar 28, 2026 +87

Utilizing them for social media content.

87

EntertheOcean Mar 28, 2026 +23

Meanwhile people act like I'm insane for never posting my child or letting other people post her online

23

Fur_Nurdle_on67 Mar 28, 2026 +2

I'm the same way with my kid. Good for you.

2

hydrawoman Mar 28, 2026 +1

I feel so sorry for children made to react and even cry and the parent films it. I always report this when I see it, although I know it is considered "funny" or "normal" by a lot of people. I find it abusive and sick.

1

lyvra_63 Mar 28, 2026 +34

Dismissing their kid’s feelings like they don’t matter or treating them with constant disrespect always feels like a pretty clear red flag to me.

34

literanch Mar 28, 2026 +67

Smoking around their kids

67

ObligationParking311 Mar 28, 2026 +27

making there kids sit in a hotboxed car while they chain smoke is just next level selfish

27

literanch Mar 28, 2026 +22

Plus if your kids smell like cigarettes or weed you are f****** up as a parent big time

22

eyeball-beesting Mar 28, 2026 +1

Jesus- aside from the social media and letting their kids behave badly thing, every comment so far sums up my dad. I need threads like this from time to time to keep the guilt of going no contact away.

1

FoxPowerful4230 Mar 28, 2026 +61

Allowing their child to behave badly in public without admonishing them.

61

CarminSanDiego Mar 28, 2026 -40

You mean gentle parenting

-40

bex231 Mar 28, 2026 +30

No, they mean permissive parenting, aka letting your kid do whatever and avoiding conflict with them. Gentle parenting focuses on being empathetic to your kids feelings and needs while creating firm boundaries and natural consequences related to what has actually occurred

30

Standard_Summer_180 Mar 28, 2026 +10

As above - thats permissive parenting. Or just not parenting. Gentle parenting is just not using fear tactics and beatings to discipline your child. And acknowledging that their brain is not yet developed and it is your responsibility to appropriately help their brain develop to become a good human. Rather than beating or scaring behaviours out of them.

10

acewednesday Mar 28, 2026 +22

When they don’t care about their kids actions. I have a friend who will let her kid run WILD. Break shit, scream, throw things, and she just sits there and says stuff like “yeah she’s crazy right” and then do nothing.

22

freshanddifficult Mar 28, 2026 +24

When a parent thinks they’re raising a pet that does exactly what they want and not a little person with their own personality, likes and dislikes.

24

Charming_Moment_3998 Mar 28, 2026 +4

I see you’ve met my mom! lol

4

Pitiful_Desk_9900 Mar 28, 2026 +66

"We're not like a regular parent and child, we're friends!" Your children are not your friends.

66

Fur_Nurdle_on67 Mar 28, 2026 +11

Be friends after they grow up. I saw this with my much-older siblings and it was pretty awesome.

11

Wonderful_Kale_7995 Mar 28, 2026 +3

My baby's dad said she was his friend and she is STILL pissed. It has been years and she's like why would I be friends with a man in his 30s he's supposed to be my dad.

3

GraybeardDevOps Mar 28, 2026 +31

Ignoring their kid in public

31

Sad_Mushroom_9725 Mar 28, 2026 +13

adding to this, "Ignores them in a waiting room, restaurant, lobby" children running amok don't get scorn from me, but their parents... . **\*initiate death glare\***

13

LAffaire-est-Ketchup Mar 28, 2026 +26

Hitting their child.

26

SailorVenus23 Mar 28, 2026 +25

They do "unschooling" instead of providing an actual education.

25

BookLuvr7 Mar 28, 2026 +12

- Dismissing children's feelings or calling them "dramatic." - Ignoring their concerns. - Pushing them into certain careers or goals that the parents wanted to pursue but couldn't. - Abandoning their children in any way, or making them feel like they were never wanted. - Gaslighting them when they say they're in pain or have been attacked. - Making them feel unsafe

12

ESLavall Mar 28, 2026 +2

My parents thought this was a checklist of how to successfully raise a child

2

Tipitina62 Mar 28, 2026 +20

Fail to correct a child who is behaving badly in public. Shouting, running around, throwing a tantrum at an age where the child should be past that point.

20

Umbilbey Mar 28, 2026 +9

When parents have new iPhones, designer purse, fresh set of gel nails, new set of lashes, hair coloured, etc but their kids don’t have jackets, boots, or shoes that fit because they can’t afford it…

9

luisp35 Mar 28, 2026 +43

Yelling at a kid for crying in public like bro, they’re literally built to cry, that’s the factory setting.

43

Technical_Contact836 Mar 28, 2026 +5

It depends. My nephew starts shit all the time. When told to knock it off, he'll cry like he's the victim. We'll sternly tell him he's not the victim, they are.

5

Lingonberry_Born Mar 28, 2026 +41

I saw a baby in a pram set up with an iPad, they were going for a walk yet apparently the one year old needs an iPad. Felt sorry for the kid, never had a chance.

41

whitewolfdogwalker Mar 28, 2026 +13

Slap the kid in the face, in public!

13

NostradaMart Mar 28, 2026 +22

"Slap the kid ~~in the face, in public!~~" fixed

22

MrsLabrat01 Mar 28, 2026 +13

Encouraging the children to make bad choices by rewarding them with extra attention and negotiations. Parenting is hard and bad choices should have consequences. The parents should be acting as parents, not trying to be a friend.

13

heyitskitty Mar 28, 2026 +12

When parents try to force their kids into ear piercings. I'm a body piercer, and our shop is known for piercing young kids (3 and up) for their first lobe piercings. We take body autonomy extremely seriously. This is just the most recent story of many, unfortunately. I had a mother and her 5-year-old daughter come in to get the little ones ears pierced. Cool. When I tried to even prep clean her daughter's ears, I got "No I don't want this" and covering her ears. Tried to talk her through it, nope. So I call it, told the mom that this isn't happening today, your daughter is CLEARLY telling me what she wants. Comes back at me with "well I'm a doctor, and her mother so I'm consenting you can just do them" Excuse me, what the f***? In one statement, you completely invalidated your daughter's body autonomy and choice (GREAT life lesson, btw) and outed yourself as a horrible physician. Left all pissed off. Felt so bad for the daughter :/

12

ESLavall Mar 28, 2026 +3

That kid loves you from that one interaction more than her mother loves her

3

heyitskitty Mar 28, 2026 +1

Sorry, not going to torture your child because your want them to have a sparkle. In ten years it will be "boys will be boys" 🤦🏻‍♀️

1

Adventurous-Fox-7951 Mar 28, 2026 +19

ipad kids

19

Distant_Touch Mar 28, 2026 +21

Shouting at their kids in public.

21

Bulky_Tutor8774 Mar 28, 2026 +28

Plops tablets down immediately in front of each kid at the restaurant while the parent then scrolls their phone.

28

Flaky_Point_3778 Mar 28, 2026 +5

Being more involved in their personal relationships than the wellbeing of their kids

5

Flaky_Point_3778 Mar 28, 2026 +4

I *had* one friend that used to order food and get mad at her kid for asking for some and tell him to “get his own” ? Then she yelled at him for having a panic attack. He was crying about being anxious and she yelled at him to stop. He has asthma and was like 4. Then he came over to my house and we got pizza for him and he says “are we staying here forever?” To which she suddenly got mad and said she needed to stay at a hotel because there wasn’t enough room. I was really worried about her son…

4

PaganDreams Mar 28, 2026 +6

I wouldn't say it makes them a bad parent , as lots of good parents I know do it, but: Forcing your kids to hug someone. I hate it, it overrides the concept of consent and bodily autonomy. It teaches them that certain people have the right to touch them no matter what the kid says. I know the parents are trying to teach their kids manners- and how to show love and care as well as say hello/ goodbye. But I think asking your kid to simply come say hello/ goodbye, and then to show love they can choose to wave, high five, or hug.

6

isthatwillythewanker Mar 28, 2026 +13

My mom drank about 1.2 litres of vodka daily, and smoked more than an 80's musician on cocaine. While pregnant with me. If I was being judgemental, I might say that she was being just slightly irresponsible. Luckily I turned out just fine, apart from my DNA having more similarities with a Donkeys than a humans. But what can you do. (You could not drink 1.2L of vodka a day and smoke like a priest on adderall) But that's no fun.

13

bbyerly11 Mar 28, 2026 +16

When the rents are dressed to a T but the kids face is dirty, hairs not combed, clothes don’t fit or match but daddy o has shoes shirt and hat that is color coordinated. Oh and when kids have dried up snot all over their face. Wipe that shit off

16

m0rt4lfury Mar 28, 2026 +10

As a parent I hate when children are allowed to act a fool in public. Parks, planes, restaurants, schools, etc. It makes me want to b**** slap the parents w/their phones, kid's ipads or whatever first then discipline the kids myself.

10

derbrauer Mar 28, 2026 +5

Not setting boundaries, or letting boundaries cave in when the child has a temper tantrum. I saw a family recently in the check-out line. Dad told the kid he could have one treat. The kid picked up 3. Dad said only one and the kid started whining and shedding crocodile tears, and dad took him away. I was ready to applaud him. Then he gave the kids a 2nd chance, the drama repeated, and the dad took the extra items away and gave the kid the one originally offered. Kids need to understand not to take advantage of generosity, and that no means no. All that kid learned was that if he pushes the boundaries, the worst consequence is that he gets what was originally offered. How is that a lesson? My kids are adults, and when they were little, I read a book called "Kids are Worth It" by Barbara Coloroso. She talks about three kinds of parents - jellyfish parents who provide no structure for kids (like the dad in the above incident). Then there are brick-wall parents who are completely rigid on the rules. And then there are the backbone parents who provide structure and stability but also have the ability to bend. If the dad had been a backbone parent, he could have told his child after the 2nd attempt that they could try again on the next time going to the store.

5

Candle_Capable Mar 28, 2026 +3

Sending their kids to school without wearing weather appropriate clothing. I understand it might get harder as they get older, but there's no reason a 5 year old isn't wearing a hat, mittens and snow pants during a Canadian winter. Or at least have them packed in their backpack just in case on a cold day

3

Wonderful_Kale_7995 Mar 28, 2026 +4

Unpopular opinion buy I have friends who's kids are not allowed internet. Ever. So they sneak it and end up on Andrew Tate and tell me they saw this cool stuff. None of the kids that are allowed on with limits tell me they are watchimg that. Let them use the internet and trust me they are usually just looking at mindcraft vids. I obviously tell the kids hey this is bad and also discreetly the parents hey I think they saw this and I know you aren't cool with that. The kids just end up punished and while I agree the content is not for them at all we should focus on media literacy.

4

Prudent-Nature5903 Mar 28, 2026 +11

When they’re on their phone the entire time at the playground. Your kid is trying to show you they can swing by themselves and you’re just scrolling.

11

Rough_Peace_3126 Mar 28, 2026 +19

Its sometimes the only time the parent can get a break sometimes humans are just so overstimulated that they need time for themselves if they go out of their way to avoid their kid at all times I could see the issue but its also good that kids learn how to entertain themselves at the park and they don’t need a grown adult climbing on the playset with them. I don’t have kids of my own but I’ve babysit a lot and kids get exhausting

19

bbyerly11 Mar 28, 2026 -24

No sorry you have kids and you decided to give up all that personal time to dedicate to them. If you ignore that you are showing them they are not important enough and will eventually just do c*** to really get your attention. You wanna play thumb games on your phone do it after bed time when you have time to yourself.

-24

Snoo-62354 Mar 28, 2026 +15

What you’re demanding runs contrary to human nature. No one can or should maintain 100% focus on their child, (or anything else for that matter) ALL the time. That kind of intensity will soon lead to burnout. People need periodic breaks. And phones get a lot of flak, but parents didn’t continuously devote their undivided attention to the kids even before smartphones. They talked to friends, read a book, did any number of other things to decompress. Parents should devote a huge amount of their time and attention to their kids, no question. But ALL the time? After a long day of taking them to breakfast, playing games in the car, girl scouts, watching a movie together, and playing hide and seek for 2 hours, I’ll admit, I need a f****** breather, dude. I don’t think that makes me a bad mom.

15

bbyerly11 Mar 28, 2026 -14

You do get a break when they go to bed. So when your thumbing through other people’s drama on social media and your not devoting your attention to your kid and someone swipes them your the one on the news saying I took my eye off them for one minute and he was gone. What’s the world coming too. It’s not a lifelong thing…. A few years while they are young. Sorry but my kids (and I have 5) have my full attention in my care while they are awake and on the go. Some game or Facebook rant can wait. Your child’s safety and supervision should be your number 1 priority. Children also learn how to interact with the world from you “the parent” and if your not interacting socially and physically with folks when your kids grow and can’t do the same you only have yourself to blame. It’s a short season they need your nurturing and it comes with the responsibility of raising a human. I’m tired too, shit sometimes I’m tired and frustrated by lunch time but living in the moment is much better than wishing I lived in the moment. I want my kids to converse with others. Have confidence. Learn about the world around them. Every moment you have to show or teach them something they absorb. Once they hit 13 that’s it…. At that point as a parent you don’t know jack shit so give them all you got while you can. No phone is that important. Or if you must include them in whatever you HAVE to do on it. Tech was supposed to be a good thing. But Disney hit it on the head with that Wall E movie. I’m sure your gonna say independent play is part of development but not in today’s world. There out there stealing god damn Memaws of famous people you don’t think your kid is valuable to that one person. As a child of a parent who had your viewpoint but substituted women and beer as his decompression. I only wish my parent was pushing me on the swings or kicking a ball back and forth. I remember watching him from afar thinking he was having a good time cause he was. But was I when I’m standing there as a child wondering if he’s having fun? Do you think I was if I had that thought? I vowed to be the father he wasn’t when I could think that through. My sister is addicted to her phone. While I’m doing things with her teens they make comments about how she can’t get her face out of it and how it’s her prized possession. But at the end of the day, they are your kids to f*** up at least in my point of view.

-14

Snoo-62354 Mar 28, 2026 +8

You’re presenting a false dichotomy- either you devote laser focus on your kid every moment of every day, or you’re an absentee parent and barely know your kid’s name. That’s not how people work.

8

MrsS1lva Mar 28, 2026 +3

Also, please learn the difference between “your” and “you’re.”

3

CraftyFraggle Mar 28, 2026 +1

My kids are older than 13. We communicate just fine. I interacted with my children plenty. I played games, did crafts, read books, helped them research topics they were interested in, talked, listened, baked, did experiments, etc. But at the playground? I often let them play while I read a book. Scrolling on a phone isn’t much different. And it is possible to be watching your children at the same time. One snapshot of time doesn’t show anything about how that parent interacts with their child the entire rest of the day, week, or month.

1

between-moments Mar 28, 2026 +4

Verbally abusive

4

thegreatdoover Mar 28, 2026 +2

Smoke with their kids in the car.

2

LaCroixBinch Mar 28, 2026 +2

The kid is being raised by an ipad.

2

my_screen_name_sucks Mar 28, 2026 +4

When you realize you’ve experience quite a few of these answers

4

TheCityGirl Mar 28, 2026 +4

Swear at and berate their kids - even in public.

4

Apprehensive_Move750 Mar 28, 2026 +1

[ Removed by Listnook ]

1

Additional-Till-6326 Mar 28, 2026 +1

Scolding your kids In front of others

1

lundbergintexas Mar 28, 2026 +1

Bragging and adoring their children in public but behind closed doors the truth comes out.

1

Kinglycole Mar 28, 2026 +1

Expect a child to be someone they’re not. Your kids aren’t clay, they’re sponges. They can be squeezed and stretched into any shape but they will go back to the shape they had before. If you feel like your child is hiding something from you, take a second to think about it. Maybe they don’t feel safe showing you.

1

itsklimmm Mar 28, 2026 +1

Seeing their kids as their property instead of actual human beings.

1

Unlucky_Yam5706 Mar 28, 2026 +1

iPads.

1

posh-old-bird Mar 28, 2026 +1

Had a guy give his two young kids (no older than 6) red bull energy drinks. He saw the look of disgust on my face and said “how else am I ment to keep them awake”.

1

TwiztidUnicornX Mar 28, 2026 -5

Any child I see with the cell phone or a tablet. automatically makes me think that their parent is dog shit.

-5

Evangelynn Mar 28, 2026 +6

Well, that's stupid. My kid is in 4th grade, reads at a 12th grade level, does math at a 7th grade level, and uses the tablet often when we go out. Watching videos about engineering, evolution, mechanics, ecosystems, life cycles, holy moly this kid has quite an avid mind for learning and I sure as hell don't know enough about any of that to deny such a valuable learning resource. The tablet also has digital books on it, and games that teach physics, math, and critical thinking. He also does soccer, swimming, and plays outside, so just because you see a kid on a tablet doesn’t mean it is all they do. It isn't the device that is a problem, it is when the parents aren't aware of what their child is doing on said device that is the problem, and you can't tell that by just seeing a kid on a tablet waiting for their doctor appointment or whatever.

6

in_my_offense Mar 28, 2026 -32

Imo if you have kids you're a bad parent. There's no legitimate justification for having kids, so the best parents are actually not parents at all.

-32

LAffaire-est-Ketchup Mar 28, 2026 +27

Maybe get some therapy for your unresolved feelings about mummy and daddy.

27

fakenews_thankme Mar 28, 2026 +19

So, your parents were bad parents. Ok, got it.

19

in_my_offense Mar 28, 2026 -25

Yes, but I'm a better parent than them. I'm proud to say I've been a part of 23 abortions and counting. Would've been great to be a part of one first hand, but, can't win em all.

-25

Sad_Mushroom_9725 Mar 28, 2026 +3

damn... \*chuckles

3

Rich-Bit4838 Mar 28, 2026 +1

Yikes. Someone needs therapy.

1

What’s something a parent can do that instantly makes you think “they’re a bad parent”?

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