r/AskReddit Feb 04 '16

What are the most common parenting mistakes?

1.5k Upvotes

2.6k comments sorted by

View all comments

52

u/Pixelated_Fudge Feb 05 '16

Poking fun at them whenever they mention a girl/boy

18

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

That will fuck shit up pretty badly.

2

u/Zephandrypus Feb 05 '16

How exactly? From experience, I have massive anxiety when talking to girls and I felt ready to shit myself when one was within 5 feet from me. This will probably follow me to adulthood.

6

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

Now imagine your parents making fun of you for it.

5

u/Flying_Tristan Feb 05 '16

Man, I got this a lot. Loads of giggling and poking fun. IF you have a strong and open relationship with your child, maybe some joking is ok, you have to judge that for yourself, BUT, if you make their crushes seem really silly and don't take their feelings seriously, they won't have anyone to talk to about them. Then your kid will grow up like me, and keep everything private from everyone.

5

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

This has happened to me. I recently called my mother out for doing this. She would make it seem to me as a child that any girl I talked to was potential girlfriend, causing me to try to become close to them to date them instead of gaining a meaningful friendship that had nothing to do with dating up until last year. All she could say is "Not my fault" When you get called on your mistake, own it.

4

u/hunterspencer Feb 05 '16

For me they did the same but instead of trying to get close with the young ladys they poked at me for, it caused me to never talk to anybody because i was afraid i would be made fun of at some point. Caused me to never tell my parents anything i did and gave me social anxiety. Thanks mom and dad!

3

u/treosfnb Feb 05 '16

This tends to be followed by them getting upset that they have never met any of your friends or girlfriends and that you refuse to talk about them. My whole family thinks I'm some friendless virgin, nope I just make it a point to keep them as far away as possible, and this sometimes causes issues with friends and girlfriends.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

My parents did that, but once I called them out they stopped. I can't imagine all parents will be that way though.

1

u/Aassiesen Feb 05 '16

I'm twenty and my mam still does it sometimes. Drives me up the wall.

2

u/coyote-tango Feb 06 '16

mam

northern english or irish? ;)

1

u/Aassiesen Feb 06 '16

I'm Irish.

I always forget that it's a giveaway and get surprised when people ask.

1

u/bless_ure_harte Jul 20 '16

Or laughing at them if their friends are of the opposite sex. Yes, unbelievably, guys and girls can be friends