Children Reveal The Most Mortifying Things Their “Karen” Parents Ever Did (82 Stories)

Parents teach us all sorts of things growing up, from saying please and thank you to knowing when it's time to apologize. But sometimes, kids end up learning a few things their parents probably shouldn't be teaching them! When a parent acts entitled, throws a fit over the smallest inconvenience, or expects everyone else to bend over backward for them, their kids can end up caught in the middle. And the tricky part is that these experiences don't always stay in childhood. They can shape how people handle friendships, relationships, and everyday situations long after they've left home.

Interestingly, not every child responds to this kind of upbringing in the same way. Some begin to copy their parents' entitled behavior, while others grow up feeling like they're never good enough. Although these reactions may seem like complete opposites, both can develop as ways of adapting to a difficult family environment. Children learn how relationships work by watching the adults around them, so a parent's behavior can have a lasting influence on how they see themselves and others. Let's start with those who end up following in their parents' footsteps.

“Children often learn by what they see. In this case, a child could lean toward entitlement,” said Craig Knippenberg, a therapist and author of Wired and Connected: Brain-Based Solutions to Ensure Your Child’s Social and Emotional Success. And when you think about it, that makes sense. Kids spend years observing how their parents deal with everyday situations, whether it's handling disagreements, reacting to criticism, or asking other people for help. If they regularly see a parent making unreasonable demands or expecting everyone else to give in, they may start to believe that this is normal behavior. Over time, they can carry those same expectations into their own relationships.

For example, imagine a child watching their parent lose their temper every time someone tells them no. If this happens often enough, the child may start to see anger and demands as perfectly acceptable ways to get what they want. They might struggle to accept rejection, expect special treatment, or become frustrated when things don't go according to plan. They may also have trouble understanding other people's perspectives because they've grown up watching their own parent's wants take priority. Of course, not every child who sees this behavior will copy it, but repeated examples can influence what they come to see as acceptable.

Things can get even trickier when parents constantly step in to protect their children from failure, disappointment, or the consequences of their actions. Let's say a child gets a bad grade at school. Instead of helping them understand what went wrong and how they could improve, an entitled parent might immediately blame the teacher or demand that the grade be changed. While they may believe they're simply standing up for their child, this approach can prevent the child from learning some important life skills. Making mistakes, accepting feedback, and dealing with disappointment are all part of growing up. When parents repeatedly step in to fix every problem, children may have fewer opportunities to develop independence, take responsibility, and learn how to handle setbacks on their own.

But here's the other side of the story: not every child grows up to behave like their parents. Some react by becoming overly cautious, constantly seeking approval, or struggling to speak up for themselves. Research has linked overparenting with lower self-confidence among young adults. Overparenting generally refers to parents becoming excessively involved in their children's lives, often stepping in to manage problems or make decisions that their children could learn to handle themselves. When parents repeatedly take control, kids get fewer chances to trust their own judgment, make mistakes, and discover that they can solve problems independently. Over time, this can leave them feeling unsure of their abilities.