The reality is sometimes even the parents can be mean. And it may feel like a little offense whenever they tell you to clean your room again and again or simply being grumpy.
Perhaps it may seem like they are out there to make your life more difficult.
However, the truth is, your parents are not being mean just for the sake of it; instead, it is a reflection of their own stress and worries. Still, dealing with a 'mean parent’ can really be overwhelming.
So, if you feel your mom or dad is always in a ‘bad cop’ mood, you can still survive those moments with some effective tips. Read below this article to find out how you can deal with mean parents.
Don’t Take It Personally
If your parent is being mean, it might seem you’ve done something worse that turned them off. However, the grumpiness is not always because of you. Everyone might have their bad days, and your parents count in too.
Whether they have had a stressful day at the office or there are some pending bills lined up, the endless responsibilities can pile into unwanted stress that spills over into other members.
Therefore, it’s never a bad idea to take a step back and not take everything personally, even though it hit you too hard.
Everything Doesn’t Need A Showdown
It’s time to pick your battles, or, in simple words, decide which concerns are actually worth fighting for.
And some you can just let slide. However, if you feel like your parents are crossing the line, you must speak up, but calmly.
Avoiding unnecessary drama is a must when it comes to saving your energy for other important things.
Talk About It At The Right Time
When it comes to dealing with mean parents, timing is key.
If your dad or mom is in the middle of scolding you about your unfinished homework, it may not be the right time for a heart-to-heart conversation.
Instead, when the situation cools down, you may sit with them and let them know how their words or actions made you feel. This gentle approach will help them see things from your perspective too without feeling offended.
You Need An Outlet Too
You must feel frustrated and angry too when your parents act mean.
And it’s obvious.
However, bottling these feelings for a long time can impact your relationship with your parents.
Therefore, it is important to find an outlet—whether it’s talking to a friend or screaming into a pillow—to release your emotions. That’s where you will find a big difference.
Understand Your Parent’s Perspective
Kids often feel parents have everything figured out just because they’re adults. This is not the truth. Even the adults don’t have everything put together. Their responsibilities for keeping you safe, providing you with the best, and most of all, ensuring your needs are fulfilled and you grow into a decent individual, make the role of parents the toughest.
Of course, this doesn’t compensate for their mean behavior, yet you can try to understand that they’re after all humans, and sometimes they might expect patient behavior on their difficult days.
Take The High Road Even When You Don’t Want To
If you feel your parents are downright unfair someday—whether they blamed you for anything you didn’t do or gave you an over-the-top punishment—it's easy to act out of spite.
Here’s when the role of taking the high road comes—where you just need to be mature even when everything seems unjust.
It does not mean letting go of your feelings but handling everything with grace, which will eventually make you feel better about yourself.
Takeaway
Dealing with mean parents comes off as difficult. However, it’s something that makes you stronger and more mature in the long run. From controlling your emotions to your mindset, your approach is what will make things easier for you. After all, this mean phase would not last forever.