Childhood Emotional Abuse Occurs in Many Ways, Even with Simple Expressions Such as "Because I Said So!"

Is it ok to tell your kids "Because I said so!" after they've questioned something you've instructed of them? My parents said this to me a lot when I was a kid. It made me feel rather bullied at the time, but in looking back, I now regard it as emotional abuse.

When a parent tells their child "That was wrong and don't you ever do that again", I think it's naturally instinctive for many kids who don't understand why something might be wrong to ask their parent why. But when the parent simply responds with "Because I said so!", it can leave a child feeling angry, frustrated and confused.

Another unsubstantiated command that many children hear from their parents is "Do as I say, not as I do!" Many parents typically rely on this command as they're addressing smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, pornography abuse, unhealthy diets, foul language, etc. Some kids are smart enough to realize that when a parent says this, what they're really saying is:

"Yea, that's right, I'm smoking and I know it's bad for me. But because my selfish and hypocritical ass isn't smart enough to explain it to you in a way that will make you understand why it's bad for you, I'm simply going to deny ownership of my parental inadequacies and tell you some stupid cliché to stifle you! And if you keep pissing me off, then I'm going to lay a guilt trip on you by reminding you of the roof I put over your head, the clothes I provide you with and the ready-made food that I feed your mouthy ass, not to mention the three different jobs I have to work to keep up with all that! And don't you even think to tell me that providing as such is my parental responsibilities or your ass will be grounded for two weeks! Now get your ass to the kitchen and grab me another beer!"

Does this sound familiar to anybody? Ok, so it might be a bit of a hyperbole, but I've actually seen this basic scenario demonstrated at some of my friends' houses while I was a kid. At the time, I didn't understand what was happening, but now in looking back, I can see it with a great deal more clarity.