I feel like mine were one of those. My mom has definitely been mentally/emotionally abusive in my younger years. Now my dad is beginning to take over that roll into my 20s (I’m 23). They say my brother and I were planned and I do believe they love us. But they both exhibit clear, clinical signs of mental/emotional abuse including gaslighting especially towards me (I’m the older one out of my brother and I.) Too long to go into, just had to get it out and admit to myself that yes I love them, I even believe they love me, but they can be abusive.

Some parents should not be parents. I will never have kids partially because of how I grew up (I’m also sterile). Partly because I know I could never love a child. And I feel wise and strong that I can admit that, because I can save them now instead of putting them through what my parents but me through. These are not my only reasons for not having children. But I would become the parent who should not have been a parent.