Posts by Matthew Morales17

Carl Anderson76 said:

On the flip side, kids back in the day were always getting a bit of corporal punishment, so I haven't really noticed "older generations" turning out to be psychopaths, bullies, people who can't stand their parents, or just totally traumatized... at least nothing worse than "kids today." From what I hear from folks working in schools (I know a few teachers) and from parents dealing with the current generation, things seem way more intense now. Why is that? , was it physical discipline or the complete lack thereof? I don't know, but it would be interesting to run some kind of study to see which kids are actually "worse"... the ones who occasionally got a belt, or the ones being raised with completely different methods regardless of how much trouble they get into.

Why say "nothing worse"? Because we aren't getting hit nearly as much anymore. A friend of mine, she's 17, took a hit at school and showed up the next day with bruised hips! Not to mention her back, her arms... her face stayed fine, so if she hadn't said anything, nobody would have even known. That’s what parents do nowadays. They do the exact same thing, they just hide it so they don't get in trouble. Back when we were thirty or twenty of us in a class, we all got disciplined. 🙄
And the reason kids today seem worse is because they're being raised by parents who are mentally unstable because their own parents were abused to such an extent . Just imagine what it's like for the kids in this current generation.

Wait, are you serious right now? You actually saw this and heard this firsthand from friends at school? That is absolutely chilling!👎

granitegull99 said:I need to have a real talk with my kid first. Growing up, I just got hit—there was zero actual communication in my house, and honestly, nothing has changed even now...
And then you've got everyone else looking at them like they're some kind of parenting saints, all because I had straight A's and spent my time babysitting the neighborhood kids. 😁
I've got nothing but contempt for parents like that! 😉

The kids today definitely act more entitled, but hey, "monkey see, monkey do." At the end of the day, how a parent carries themselves and whether they actually talk to their kid plays a massive role in how that kid turns out mentally. It’s always easier to just blame the kid for everything they do, though...

It's as simple as that! You hit the nail right on the head.👍

silentpilot6 said:Genetics, environment, social circles—are we really saying none of that matters? Is the burden of everything falling solely on the parents? By that logic, if you have good, responsible parents, every child should turn out exactly the same. I’m not so sure about that...

Generally speaking, those without children don't truly understand parenting. They might know the theory "on paper," but we all know how much you can manipulate paper. It's like love. You can read 1,500 love poems or 250 romance novels, but until you actually fall in love, you have no idea what it feels like.
It’s the same with other things; you can look at photos, watch movies, or read all the textbooks you want, and you can daydream all day 😁 but until you actually experience sex, you don't truly know what it is. So why would raising children be any different?
It is entirely possible—in fact, it's the reality 😁—that someone with one or more children who hasn't read a single book on the subject knows far more about parenting than someone without kids who has studied an entire library dedicated to "child rearing." 😁... I will always trust hands-on experience over pure theory. No book can account for every unique situation, every different child, or every unexpected event.
I'm not saying theories are useless or shouldn't be studied, but paper can claim anything, whereas real life is almost always different from the textbook version 😬 of life... Therefore, claiming to know how to raise children when you don't have any (yes, I do this too 😁) is, to put it mildly, unprofessional. It's especially problematic when people use absolutes like, "I'll never..." Well, we'll see. 😁

Someone else here mentioned that they definitely won't hit their child. They don't even have a kid yet, but they already know they won't. I know this guy in my neighborhood who has 15 kids—it's total chaos, constant noise, fighting, and mayhem everywhere you look. The police show up almost every day, and it's been like that for years. Those kids have nothing but problems. So, do I believe the parenting style of this forum user, who claims she won't hit her kids (whenever she eventually has them), or do I believe the reality of this guy who actually manages 15 kids in practice and, according to you, knows everything there is to know about upbringing because he's a "practitioner"? You? Do you actually believe what you wrote (the part I bolded)? 👍

Morgan Cooper34 said:Look, excuse me, but I honestly think every single parent is unqualified when they have their first kid.
Reading sixteen different parenting books won't magically turn me into some expert or even a decent parent once my own child finally arrives one day.

Honestly, why do we need to make parenting or marriage out to be this huge, mystical mystery? It’s actually quite simple if you think about it! For instance, I head out at 3 PM to pick up my wife, and I am genuinely excited to see her! We catch up on what happened during the day, grab some lunch, maybe a coffee, and just chat for a bit. It’s such a blast! If she needs anything, I’m right there for her—and of course, the feeling is mutual. Even with my daughter, it's the same vibe; she might smother me a little while we're out shopping for things like lotions, perfumes, or shoes (between us, that can drive me a little crazy!), but the core principle remains identical to how I treat my wife. It’s wonderful! You just have to respect your child, treat them as your equal, be there whenever they need you, and look at them with kindness and a friendly spirit. Isn't it really just that straightforward?! All this extra drama is totally unnecessary.👍

Morgan Cooper34 said:I personally think *Primal Scream* by Arthur Janov is one of the best books out there regarding child upbringing, even if it isn't strictly focused on parenting. But honestly? I think we have much bigger problems than just punishing children. We have the issue of unwanted children. Kids born not because parents actually wanted them, but just because they felt it was something they "had" to do.

A few posts ago, you asked: "why are you all so afraid to tear down those perfect images of your parents, the ones who molded you into such good, disciplined little kids through strict, old-school discipline?
Get them off their pedestals."

Look, I don't put my parents on a pedestal, but I am certain they couldn't have been any better.
Despite a few times getting grounded or taking a hit, my parents truly wanted me and loved me. As a kid, I felt that. I could even feel their regret whenever they had to punish me (which usually happened because I was intentionally being difficult and testing every single boundary they set—but that's a whole other story). On the flip side, you'll meet plenty of people who would never lay a finger on their child, yet they've never built a real connection with them either. Why? Because that child wasn't wanted. They weren't loved.

The very fact that you're claiming your parents couldn't have been any better proves that you *are* keeping them on a pedestal! Because let's be real, anyone can improve, right? Unless you're claiming they were perfect, which means they're on that pedestal! And that part about them feeling bad for hitting you—well, shouldn't they have avoided hitting you altogether?! Are you seriously suggesting that it was harder for them to deal with the guilt than it was for you to take the hits?!☕

Morgan Cooper34 said:😍

I just love these "future parents."

My own mother used to say the exact same thing right before she had me: never, seriously, never would I lay a hand on my little baby! I'd sooner cut off my own arm!

And then she got stuck with me. 🤣

Oh, absolutely, it is just wonderful how people act when they have a toddler or a little two-year-old running around! They're such perfect little angels, right? Everyone just loves them and adores them through age sixteen, filled with all these sweet declarations of love and pure joy! But then, what happens when those kids hit ten or twelve? That's when the real chaos starts for parents! Once they actually start thinking for themselves and discovering who they are—hello, puberty!—suddenly the kid starts trying to unseat Mom or Dad from their pedestal. And suddenly, Mom is no longer the queen of the house, and the child is labeled as some "ungrateful brat" who totally deserves to be punished because they aren't being "good" anymore. Isn't it funny how the less qualified a parent is, the bigger that ego gap becomes?☕

silentpilot6 said:It’s honestly amusing when people attack you just for starting a discussion. It feels like they're implying that because you're bringing up a topic 25 years later, it must have left some deep, lasting scar on you. 🤣
If I start a thread to open the topic of pedophilia... does that make me one? If I start a thread about the German military in WW2, am I suddenly a Nazi? Or if I discuss old political figures from the past, am I labeled a radical? 🤣... and so on, it goes. It's absurd.

Some people just refuse to grasp that we aren't all cut from the same cloth. You can't solve every single issue through dialogue, setting examples, or bans. To be honest, I find it interesting when this thread is filled with people who don't even have children—and look, I don't have any either, but still 😁—or those who say they never want kids yet feel entitled to weigh in here. I truly wonder what all these "I don't have kids, but I'd never lay a hand on my own child" types will do when their little ones actually act out. After twenty-five explanations and clarifications, will they try a twenty-sixth explanation, or will they finally reach for a belt?

On the other hand, kids used to get disciplined physically all the time, and I certainly didn't notice the "older generations" turning into psychopaths, abusers, or broken individuals... at least not any more than today's youth.
From what I hear from educators—I know a few teachers—and parents of the current generation, things seem much worse now. Why is that? 🤷Whether physical discipline or the lack thereof played a role, I think it would be worth conducting some actual research to see which group is "worse"... the kids who occasionally face a belt, or those who are raised entirely by other methods regardless of how they behave.

Believe me, you can solve almost anything with communication—I've done it myself, and I'm still doing it! Just the other day, I was getting hammered (online shopping, obviously!), and I defended my position quite effectively. But I really have to wonder, how long can this go on?
Of course, when it comes to topics like this, the people who should really be leading the conversation are those who actually have children. I'm always a little skeptical when it comes to taking advice on sex from the Pope, right?!
As for today's youth, I personally feel they are much better off than we were or any of the older generations. 👍

Hannah White2 said:Just install aluminum shutters and call it a day, right? 😁
Man, "it's fine, just fix it later" is such a dangerous, lazy way of thinking—it’s a mindset that’s been rotting through society for generations. Trust me, violence doesn't just spawn out of thin air; it’s learned behavior, plain and simple.
The first three years of life are everything—that’s when you basically build a future bully. Honestly, I can't wrap my head around seeing moms who feel the need to constantly smack their kids... I mean, if they aren't already acting like primitive cavemen, shouldn't they be the ones providing some actual gentleness? Anyone using physical force like that is part of the problem. And let's be real, most of the time it isn't even a conscious choice—it’s just them repeating the patterns their own parents drilled into them (even if those parents are halfway across the country or long gone).

Well, back when all this was happening, we didn't even have those aluminum shutters! They weren't around!! That’s really the core of the issue right there.😂 As for female tenderness, let me tell you, I've seen just about everything! You wouldn't believe it! Take my neighbor, for instance—she spends years, every single day, all day long, screaming at her kids, calling them stupid, idiots, or monkeys, telling them there isn't a shred of love in them (that bit about love is a new one I heard just yesterday, apparently!)!!?? She probably can't even raise her voice to her husband, so she takes everything she's thinking and dumps it on them instead! She has three kids, and the oldest is maybe 12. The kids are just kids, they seem—and actually are—totally fine. She is literally tearing them apart! How can anyone be that foolish?! To their own flesh and blood?!👎

Casey Wright4 said:But would you actually lay a hand on someone your own size? Someone who’s looking you in the eye, being devious, and playing games... or do you just pick on the kid who’s fifty pounds lighter and can't fight back?

And you think you're writing "something deep" here?! Let me tell you, a real alpha male in America (and everywhere else, really) carries himself with certain standards: his word is law, his wife supports him, and she shows her devotion without question. The kids stay out of the way and step up whenever they're needed. And honestly, if that man needs to discipline his wife or child through force, isn't that just part of the deal when they've earned it? That’s what defines a real man! You can tell exactly who he chooses to assert his dominance over, and let me tell you, it's certainly never an equal! Not even in his wildest dreams! And here's the real kicker: instead of seeing people like that as bottom-of-the-barrel cowards, society actually treats it like some kind of badge of honor or a virtue!?🤷

Roger Rodriguez said:My goodness, isn't that just common sense? I completely agree with what was said earlier; none of us can predict how life will unfold or how we will react one day. Some kids only need five minutes of explanation to understand right from wrong and they listen, whereas others seem to go out of their way to cause trouble.
As for long-term consequences, I won't let anyone convince me that a little discipline causes lasting trauma. My mother was always the authority figure; I never feared her, but her firm tone and the occasional ear-tugging turned me into the most well-behaved kid on the block. On the other hand, my father was completely indifferent and detached, and if I have any bad memories from my childhood, it’s because of his lack of involvement.

When you're stuck choosing between two imperfect ways of parenting, you really just pick the lesser of two evils, right? That’s exactly what I would have done too! Because let’s face it, neglect and indifference are way worse than physical discipline. It's a known thing that children just want their parents to notice them and engage with them, even if that engagement comes through a stern hand or a quick ear pull. A mischievous or difficult child is often just desperate to feel seen, wouldn't you agree?☕

Quote : Legion

Lawrence Wilson35 said:Violence is violence—whether it is psychological or physical, whether it is inflicted on a woman, a man, a child, or an animal.
When discussing physical abuse against children in the US, people talk about "spanking." In Northern Europe, they call it "slapping." In other places, they might use even more euphemistic terms to soften the blow. But regardless of how different cultures choose to label it, the reality remains unchanged: it is all just different names for the same thing—VIOLENCE.
I suspect that when people attempt to justify "discipline," what they are actually doing is trying to justify themselves, the families they were raised in, or the political and religious regimes that shaped them.
And frankly, it isn't surprising. Their logic usually follows this pattern: "My parents hit me with a belt a few times and I turned out fine; I grew up to be a decent person, and I still love my parents."
And truly, we shouldn't necessarily blame our parents for those moments of physical discipline; they were simply doing the best they knew how to do at the time.
However, we know better today. We understand that violence is unacceptable, and therefore, we must reflect and learn from the mistakes of previous generations.
We know that the situation is far more complex than the simplistic argument: "My parents hit me occasionally, so I turned out okay."
We recognize that a child is a human being from birth—a concept that wasn't universally accepted even twenty years ago in many parts of the world. From this, a simple logic follows: if we wouldn't strike our partners, why should we ever strike our children?
To those who argue that an adult possesses a formed personality while a child does not: tell me, does that give us permission to hit them? I will say this to such people: whether adult or child, Black or White, male or female—every single human being possesses DIGNITY. Whether it is a spanking, a slap, pulling an ear, or constant criticism, that dignity is being stripped away. EVERY HUMAN BEING HAS DIGNITY.
Today, we understand that every individual is unique and reacts differently. Some may have been hit multiple times and appear unaffected, while others might be haunted by a single instance for their entire lives. Are we really willing to gamble and experiment with our own children?
We also know that children are fully competent beings who cooperate with their parents in two distinct ways: directly or inversely. Both are forms of COOPERATION—the act of sending a message to a parent that something is wrong. In cases of violence, some children cooperate directly by rebelling, becoming aggressive, defiant, stubborn, or hysterical; essentially, they become destructive or self-destructive. Others cooperate inversely by withdrawing, enduring the abuse, becoming passive, and eventually believing they deserve the treatment or that violence is normal as long as it comes from someone stronger. Again, they become destructive or self-destructive.

Regardless of the philosophy used to defend it, the most critical fact is this: every time we use violence against a child, we strip away a piece of their SELF-ESTEEM—their fundamental realization that they have inherent value simply by existing.
Perhaps because we struck them, our children might not grow up to be alcoholics, drug addicts, criminals, or depressed individuals. Perhaps they won't turn to suicide, theft, or prostitution; perhaps they will love and respect us. MAYBE. But one thing is certain:
Every form of violence—regardless of the flag under which it is waved, the name it is given, or the "justification" provided—communicates to a child that they are not worthy. In doing so, we violate a basic human right: the RIGHT TO DIGNITY.
Through every episode of violence, children learn that they are worth less and less.
By using violence, we create individuals who lack self-love and self-respect, and who are irresponsible toward their own lives. This inevitably leads to a lack of respect for others and irresponsibility toward society as a whole.
Through violence, we mold personalities that are controlled by external forces, when our goal should be to raise people who are capable of being themselves.

There is no need to condemn our parents; they were once children too, raised in their own way. Even in modern democratic societies, patriarchal undertones remain. Imagine how difficult it was for our parents living under the regimes they grew up in.
Criticism isn't the point; reflection is.
We must step outside of social norms, outdated rules, and rigid frameworks, because our children deserve nothing less.
We must liberate ourselves from superficial, arrogant, and imposed attitudes and start thinking for OURSELVES. We need to think deeply about what is right, rather than settling for shallow conclusions.
I’ll admit, it’s an uphill battle. Swimming against the current is exhausting when traditionalism still runs so deep in America; you end up risking social stigma just for trying something different, especially when there aren't even any role models to look up to.
What’s more, it feels like we have to reinvent the very concept of parenting from scratch, which is incredibly difficult.
But I truly believe the effort pays off.
In a household where individual identity is respected and every single person is treated with equal dignity, everyone wins—both the children and the parents.
The alternative? When there is violence or coercion, nobody comes out happy.
Parenting isn't a one-way street from parent to child; it flows both ways.
It’s a reciprocal process where everyone involved is learning.
We need to actually observe our children instead of resorting to force, because they will tell us everything we need to know. Children are inherently social creatures—is there anything more "social" than sending a message to someone else that they are hurting us??!
Let’s try to look past those shallow, arrogant, stagnant views that suggest corporal punishment is some kind of divine necessity.
Some people argue that today’s kids are too rebellious or aggressive because they’ve been raised in "democratic" households... and honestly, I agree.
Those are the children of parents who gave them everything they wanted, centered their entire lives around their kids, and lost themselves in the process. Kids actually need their parents. (Rebellion and aggression are often just cries for cooperation). Children usually know what they want, but they rarely know what they actually need. What they need is parental guidance built on mutual respect: I respect myself, and I respect others.
Sorry for the long post... this topic hits close to home.

I couldn't agree more! The classic dilemma for parents is basically this: do you sit down and actually digest all these insightful books and articles, or do you just deliver a quick slap to show who's boss? We all know the second option is way easier, and for someone looking for a shortcut, it's the only way they see fit. ☕

silentpilot6 said:On this forum in general, and especially in the psychology section, there is no middle ground; everything is viewed in extremes of black and white.
That’s why we have a group here where you simply can't explain certain nuances to anyone. For instance, if you mention that experiencing physical discipline three times in a lifetime can leave lasting scars on a child 🤣... people immediately jump to calling Child Protective Services to have those parents stripped of their rights and the kids sent to foster care.

Once again, we are seeing such incredibly shallow thinking at work! Instead of me sitting here writing out an entire essay on why this is bad for kids, let me ask you this: how would you feel—since you're a grown adult—if I just came up and beat you with a belt? What would you think about me, or about yourself? Would you cry? Would you actually enjoy it? Would you end up hating me or hating yourself? How would you hide those bruises from your wife, and how on earth would you explain them if she saw them, or if your coworkers spotted them during a company outing? Would you be constantly haunted by the question of "why" and the fear of what might happen if I decided to do it again?? And am I going to do it? Well, for a child, all of this is so much harder, much more terrifying, much more mysterious, and far more tragic, because the ones doing the hitting are their parents (their little Gods!), and they aren't a fully formed adult like you who can wrap their head around it, are they? Or does most everyone just view this through a very superficial, shallow, and banal lens, just like you, where a belt seems totally okay? Just something to change things up once in a while, right?🤷

silentpilot6 said:If a kid tried to light a fire on the balcony and ended up setting the shutters ablaze, and you barely managed to stop the whole house from going up in flames, what would you have done?
I would have sat him down and said, "Look at what you've done, you little troublemaker..." Well, because I did that, I ended up getting a beating and learned some hard lessons. That was that. 😁

On the surface—and let's be honest, most people look at everything in life this way, all shallow and superficial—that might seem true. But if you really stop to think about it, how does it work? If a tiny little kid somehow gets their hands on a box of matches or a lighter—are the parents to blame for that?! And even if they do have matches, if a child that age isn't being supervised—are the parents to blame for that too?! Or if they hadn't been properly taught and shown what fire actually is—again, blame the parents?! I truly believe that when a child pulls off a major disaster (because small mistakes are just part of being a kid, right?), especially if it happens more than once, the parents should basically be giving themselves a lecture! Because at the end of the day, it really is their responsibility!👍

John Parker5 said:Ladies, look at it this way: imagine if your husband or boyfriend laid a hand on you every single time you lied about being at work when you actually spent those six or seven hours grabbing coffee with a friend. Or guys, picture your wife losing her cool and hitting you because you were busy grilling fish and accidentally torched her favorite rosebush in the yard. Do you think you’d deserve a physical hit, or just a really intense, heated argument? Now, take all that and imagine how a child feels when they get struck by the one person they love more than anything in the world...
p.s. I know these examples are pretty basic, but honestly, nothing else popped into my head right then. 😁

I think this is a really powerful point, but can we look closer? If someone hits me, I can usually point to a reason, right? Maybe I burnt the steak, or maybe I was just a bit rude to my wife (ha!), or perhaps she’s having a rough day at work and takes it out on me. For an adult, there are always these "excuses" or mitigating circumstances to wrap our heads around. But when parents hit a child? There aren't any excuses or easy ways to justify it; it's just pure, heavy hardship! A kid doesn't even truly understand what they did wrong, and the absolute worst part is the realization that they're being struck by their own parents! At that age—and for many people throughout their entire lives, unfortunately, since some folks stay immature forever—parents are basically GODS to a child! I have never once laid a hand on my daughter, and looking around at the world today, I am so incredibly proud of that! 👍

velvetmaker3 said:Reaching a breaking point doesn't have to mean turning to violence, especially against your own family. He made a conscious choice to take down the people closest to him—the very ones he was supposed to protect. That’s why he’s a piece of trash, not because he hit a wall. It wasn't even a breakdown; he just broke everyone else. This wasn't some heat-of-the-moment mistake; it was premeditated.
And to top it all off, he gets this massive send-off with a crowd at his funeral, while his victims are forced to share a grave with him. If he’d had servants or horses, he probably would have strangled them and buried them right alongside him too. It's basically the same thing.
If he couldn't handle life, he could have just ended it himself and been done with it.
Think about that English woman from that reality show who recently passed away from cancer; she fought to support her kids until her very last breath. That's what real character looks like. This idiot just proved he was a fool all along; people just didn't see it because they hadn't been put in a situation where he'd actually show his true colors.
You find out who someone really is when things get tough, and when the pressure was on, he showed exactly what he is. A low-quality human being, and worse than that.

You hit the nail on the head, my friend, precisely! She is a legend and deserves nothing less than our utmost respect. But she has one little issue: she's a woman, so according to certain people, she isn't "interesting" enough. And besides, we're all just being incredibly full of ourselves, aren't we? Like the world is supposed to revolve entirely around us? And oh, heaven forbid, what if you were a veteran of the Gulf War! Good grief!

There were plenty of situations there, believe me, it's just a matter of knowing how to read the signs and recognize them for what they are. That’s really the core issue, isn't it? Who is actually going to be able to spot them?🤷

Rebecca Chavez85 said:I find myself scrolling through the comments on the local news sites out of California, reading what those Lawrence types have to say. Is it just me, or does everyone seem to be scrambling to find some pathetic excuse for a murderer? They bring up mental illness, PTSD, financial struggles—as if any of that makes it okay.
To put it bluntly, there is absolutely no justification for such human filth. Only a true monster could lay hands on children. May they burn in hell forever...

Of course they’re making excuses for him! If most people weren't like this, tragedies like this wouldn't even happen in the first place, right? Seriously, what kind of society makes it perfectly normal for someone to just have a rifle and an assault weapon sitting around?! And then everyone starts praising them or acting shocked, saying things like, "Oh, but he was such a wonderful man, such a great guy!" Don't I dare tell you that at least ten different people must have known about his weapons? Why wasn't it reported? Honestly, I am just so sick of all these veteran groups and those endless lists of patriotic little club names—all that nonsense! Let's stop telling ourselves these fairy tales meant for toddlers. You can't just blame everything on some war that happened decades ago. Enough with the excuses! Can we please actually get to work and fix something?!☕

Sam Gonzalez67 said:is that... while the pathologist didn't actually find any cancer, they did flag a suspicion regarding HIV...
now it looks like the guy is just a total jerk, though I honestly suspect he might be gay, which would explain a lot of that deep-seated frustration he’s been carrying around for years... especially once you look into where he actually came from.

I am signing onto this completely! A Bastard and gay—you can slice it a few different ways, can't you? And honestly, does it not just rub me the wrong way how he supposedly adored those kids, like they were his whole world? He acts like such a degenerate, yet he has two children?! Hmm, I really can't get behind that at all. It feels like he just loved himself most of all, and then maybe even his kids, simply because they were products of "wonderful old him," right?☕

goldenpilot20 said:Word is he was dealing with prostate cancer.

But seriously, what on earth does having cancer have to do with murdering his own wife and family?!🤷

feralhound55 said:Same here... I remember one time during a job interview process, I ended up being listed second—purely because of some stupid alphabetical order. Basically, someone else and I were both top candidates, but since my last name fell later in the alphabet, I was ranked second. And instead of my wonderful parents being happy that I actually landed the job (since we both got hired), they just poked at it... ugh, "well, you were only second." They said it with that tone of "see, I knew you weren't all that"... 🙄

Just tune it out and move on. At the end of the day, you're the only one who truly knows your worth. Some parents just don't know how to show affection—they can't even love properly because nobody ever showed them how. It's not really an excuse, but you don't have much choice but to accept them as they are. You just have to start loving yourself, even if it's tough when those old wounds run deep.

The thing is, kids (especially little ones) see their parents as god—like their entire universe. For obvious reasons. Everything they say feels like the absolute, undeniable truth. But once you grow up, you realize that's not quite right. They're just people, flawed just like the rest of us. You accept it and stop letting it get to you. Easier said than done, sure, but it's worth the effort.

**Bolded part:** An apology from them isn't even worth a damn! Do they not understand what love is? Maybe they should try watching a movie, reading a book, or just taking a moment to reflect. Is that really too much to ask? It isn't! They just don't want to! They were raised by sadists and they grew to embrace that cruelty, so now they just force what they learned onto everyone else. And worst of all—they claim they love their children! 🙂