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Kathe Rich's avatar

It seems to me that poor parenting has been the cause of much misery inflicted on humanity. Putin's parents were pretty awful as well.

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Mary's avatar

Amen! Can't be said often enough or loud enough. I love the "they did their best" refrain that is often times offered in defense of shitty parents.

I think it can be argued that the vast majority of parents "do their best", I think it can also argued that many peoples' best is really quite shitty.

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SandyG's avatar

There's lots of lit in the psych world about abusers having parents who abused, who had parents who were abused, back through many generations in western societies. Children need both firmness AND love from their parents. Parents who were damaged as children can't show love to their own children unless they get therapeutic care to heal the wounds of their childhood.

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suzc's avatar

So many abusers were abused. But many abused did not become abusers. No justification for what TFG is.

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SandyG's avatar

Not a justification, but an explanation.

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