#1

Felix is 6 years old and Julia is 4 years old in this story
I can start with a incident that made me wonder how i raised my son.
So me Felix and his younger sister Julia we're on a camping trip through the north of Sweden when my son, from nowhere just start's to scream '' I will end you Julia '' and after he starts to pray to god. No one in my family is religious and that is what makes me feel uncomfortable. I ask him '' Felix whats going on? '' and he answer's '' Julia wouldn't let me play with her hair ''. The whole trip i would always check out what Felix was doing because i could just feel his anger of something but could't put my finger on what until 5 years later (2017) when the same thing happen'd again.
Me and my wife had just picked up the kids from school and let them play upstairs while we're cooking food, and then from nowhere we heard the loudest scream saying '' I WILL END YOU JULIA '' so i ran upstairs as fast as i could. When i came up to the room my kids we're playing in i saw my daughter laying on the floor bleeding from her hair, and beside's her my son is sitting praying to god with blood in his hands!!?? I we're so confused, my son had pulled so hard in his siblings hair that she had lost hair and started bleeding. That is the most creepy thing iv'e seen in my whole life so far. When i asked my son what he has done he answers to me with most chilling voice i ever will hear '' Julia wouldn't let me play with her hair dad ''.
About 2 weeks after the incident i asked Felix why he pulled her hair, he said '' the man in my head tells me what to do, i cant choose what to do''
My son is getting help and my daughter is fine.
#2

I lived with a father who often beat my mother, my sister and me. My mother said it started when I was 4 months old. My mother always tried to protect us but wasn't always there, I lived in a home filled with hate and violence and never really learned what love or happiness was. I was a pretty violent child with a lot of anger issues, my mother told me I would often hit my grandmother or her and when my sister was born it was even worse, I hated her and wanted her dead because since she was there I couldn't have nice things anymore (I was 3).
I was the kind of child to throw a tantrum because I was not given the present I wanted for Christmas when I had a room full of toys and I would trow myself on the floor and scream or even hit people and break items then act as if everything was normal.
It took a turn when my best friend passed away, I was six and I pushed my sister down the stairs a few times. Now I could have been helped if my mom had accepted I had a problem but she refused to think something might not be wrong. I was forced by school to see a psychiatrist who realised something was wrong and asked to see me again, I never returned as my mother just didn't want to face the truth.
Growing up I had a lot of anger issues and sent a few of my classmates to the hospital but when questioned I didn't remember what happened, it was around 16 my mother realized something was really wrong, I had an argument with her and hit her than came back a few minutes later and wondered why she was mad, a few days later my father had cornered me while I was doing the washing up, I grabbed a knife and if my sister didn't see it and reacted I know I would have stabbed him even if I don't remember it, I remember my father screaming at me but not the knife part.
When I realized something was wrong I asked to see a psychiatrist who told me I had a illness.
Now I've changed a lot and seems like a normal person, I'm 23, really close to my sister and I don't have anymore anger issues, I don't see my father anymore and things seem to be good except I don't really have feelings, I never did but I still know what I did was bad.
To all the parents here, if your child acts in a way that is not normal, bring them to a psychiatrist, it's not something to be ashamed of but someone that is ill won't change by himself.
#3

My nephew at 7 yelled at my sister at Subway when she asked him to pick out his chips. He screamed "Shut up, I want to choke you!" Then proceeded to kick the customer nearest him in the back of the leg. My sister just laughed it off with a defeated, embarrassed look on her face.
At my daughters 3rd birthday party my niece (8 at the time) realized she was wearing the Jean's she doesn't like, screamed over the birthday song at her parents told them to fix it immediately. Well, they couldn't, they had no change of clothes. She flipped out, grabbed the birthday cake and threw it on the ground then ripped her pants off threw a present on the ground and stomped all over it. No apology. No consequences. My sister offered to pay to replace the gift I told her I'd rather she pay to send her kids to therapy she cussed at me and said I didn't love my niece and nephew.
They're in their teens now and still throw fits if you don't do what they want or let them win, etc. When my brother had his son, monster nephew started beating him up around 3. Monster was 9. Monster gave the little boy a black eye. And the only people my monster niece and nephew are genuinely scared of and behave around are my African-American sister in law and my Mexican brother in law. They've never done anything to them, they're just not white.
Anyway, we have secret family get togethers without inviting them because they always ruin them. We honestly don't like living like this but, we also don't like spending X amount of hours listening to them whine, complain, scream, and demand things while breaking and destroying our property and you can't say anything to them and their parents won't say anything. Its upsetting. I dread their future.
Parenting is basically trial and error, and there’s no universal manual for raising kids. Some parents go all-in on strict rules, thinking control is the secret sauce to good behavior. But overdoing it can backfire; kids start rebelling or sneaking around just to test the limits. Picture a household where every little mistake gets a lecture marathon: it’s exhausting for everyone. Balance is the real magic, and that’s what separates stressed-out parents from the chill, confident ones.
On the flip side, being too soft isn’t the answer either. Overindulgence, constant comfort, and letting kids get away with everything might seem easier in the moment, but it can create confusion and entitlement. Children need guidance, boundaries, and limits to feel secure. Without them, they might struggle with responsibility or fail to understand consequences. Too much leniency might make daily life easier for the parent, but it can make growing up a lot harder for the child.
#4

#5

#6

My mum replied with something like, you can’t talk to me like that. You need to respect me to which my sister replies
‘I have no respect for the one that cleans my knickers. Leave.’
I’m in shock, if I said that to my mum I’d be slapped but she turns a blind eye.
Somewhere in the middle, however, lies a parenting style that balances care and structure. Known as authoritative parenting, this approach mixes firm boundaries with warmth and support. Psychologists say kids raised this way are more likely to become happy, confident, and well-adjusted adults. These parents provide clear expectations but also explain the reasoning behind rules, fostering both independence and responsibility. The goal is to guide without smothering or controlling too much.
#7

My middle child is 10. She becomes completely uncontrollable when things are not going her way. She has told me that she is going to go to school and tell them I beat her so she can go to foster care. Her older sister struggles with depression and cuts herself. She hopes she cuts too far one time. She will go outside and scream at the top of her lungs. She has hit me, spit in my face. Breaks things, destroys the house.
They both had a pretty rough childhood. I am a recovering alcoholic so my own issues played into it. I was never aggressive but I was definitely not there for them like i should have been. I was more of a friend than a parent. I'm sober now. We are all in therapy. I really hope that by doing these things that we can make things right.
I haven't given up, i still have hope. But it's really really hard sometimes.
#8

My mom got drunk one night and said 'Sometimes I think the world would have been better off if I'd drowned her in the tub'.
So, yeah ...
#9

Authoritative parents often lead by example, modeling calm, rational behavior for their children. Developmental psychologist Diana Baumrind identified this style in the 1970s, describing it as assertive but not intrusive or restrictive. Discipline is about teaching, not punishing, and kids are encouraged to be cooperative, confident, and self-regulated. These parents aren’t perfect; they’re human, but they model the behavior they hope to see in their kids.
#10

I can't even tell you how many times I have cried because of things she has said or done.
My oldest daughter is a sweetheart and they are polar opposites. I am concerned there are some mental health issues right now because she has increased her behaviours. Unfortunately she is off on her own so I cant do anything but ask her to talk to someone.
#11

Love him but growing up he had no idea about morals
We had a portable DVD player as kids with a load of DVDs and a couple of nintendos. He loved them and would always giggle watching them but one day when he was four he thought it would be hilarious to throw them all out of the window and smash them
Another time when we had moved houses a stray cat was always wandering around. We fed him and sprayed him and our grandmother adored him, I think my brother would have been 6 or 7 but we walk into the garden to see him swinging the cat by it's tail in circles, giggling in fits.
Now that he's older he'll still kick up and have fits but at least he knows what things are bold.
#12

Of course, the tricky part is finding the right balance. Too strict, and kids revolt. Too lenient, and they get lost in a world of “I can do whatever I want.” It’s like walking a tightrope while juggling spaghetti—possible, but you need patience. The key is consistency, fairness, and calm communication, with adjustments as kids grow. Authoritative parenting takes effort, but the payoff is kids who can think for themselves and thrive.
#13

My brothers were figthing yesterday in the room beside mine. I’m hearing everything for 20 min straight. I’m having a cold and therefore wanted to see if they could resolve it first.
The older brother is constantly using his strength (he is strong, fat and tall) to taunt the younger one., but the older one is wimp who will sit down if you demand respect. The younger is even more of a coward. I don’t really condone using this word, but seriously. That is what he is. This younger is the middle child.
They still don’t break it up after 20 min, I get there. Throw the older out of the room. He gets out, not before he hits him again. I had surgery on my leg a while ago and still in recovery. So really in no shape to step in between, unless I want my other leg to break.
The older gets out of the room. Then suddenly the middle one gets the courage to beat him up, WHEN he’s out of the room. I do not touch him but block his exit with both hands to the side of the door. This little psychopath uses all his strength to push on my hands and I almost fall to the floor. He knows all the pain I’ve been in from my surgery. I get mad and tell to him to stop acting like this and if he really had the courage and wanted to beat the older one up he should’ve done in it the 20 min and maybe more.
He starts taking his anger out on me and i’ve had enough. My headache is so bad at this moment. I close the door and lock with a key by force.
He gets out of the window and gets in the house via the balcony. Now this is where his horrible and outright scary personality comes to show. Keep in mind he’s only 13.
I tell him what is he doing. What does he want. He talks to me condescendingly and tells me just to go back to my room (I’m always in my room hihi) and just tells to me to shut up. He starts threatening and speaking to me as if he has any power over me. But the scary thing is how calm and poisonous his tone is. He isn’t affected by any of the words I’m saying and have zero respect to as a big sister. I’m not demanding any respect, but he doesn’t have that love and care we other siblings have for each other.
I’ve always started to notice how he says whatever the hell he want and then makes into a joke with a cheeky smile. When my dad was going to visit grandma, he told the rest of the family “he’s just waiting on the grandparents to be gone, and then he’ll be back”.
I mean who the says that? This was a bit much, but the road that my brother is headed is not a good one. And I’m truly scared for his future.
#14

#15

She's 14 for life, and not the good kind of 14 years old.
Setting clear consequences is essential, but enforcing them with calm, compassion, and understanding is equally important. Kids need to know that mistakes have results, but that those results aren’t meant to punish harshly; they’re meant to teach. By staying composed, parents show that discipline is about learning, not anger. It helps children trust their parents while understanding responsibility and fairness.
#16

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#18

Another secret sauce is involving kids in family decisions. Ask for their opinions, let them weigh in, but keep the final say. It teaches negotiation, empathy, and compromise. Kids feel heard without taking over the household. They learn their voice matters, which builds confidence and respect while keeping chaos to a minimum. Everyone wins, and the family vibes stay intact.
#19

#20

My heart was actually racing at this point, was wounding, I told him to stop in a panic like 4 times before I bothered to actually get up and physically take the controller from him.
My partner just sat and pissed himself
There was another story with my 2 year old daughter; I rescued 6 goldfish from my work. Took them and the tank home.. 3 or so weeks later, my partner went for a wee and I popped into my bedroom to grab something.. whilst walking back through I hear my daughters name followed by “put it down...!” I stand in the door to my living room to see her throw a goldfish back into the tank that she had pulled out and wanted to hold. No fish were harmed luckily.
Cannot say that I didn’t laugh at her innocence..
I think my kids definitely have their moments 😂.


