Parent Abuse: What is it?
Parent Abuse is any behavior that is harmful to you or creates
fear. It can include hitting, shoving, punching, yelling, stealing, breaking or throwing things, punching holes in the
walls, put downs, threatening to do bodlily harm, running away, and even committing suicide. When a "parent" receives any of the above described treatment from their child or children, it is Parent Abuse and it is wrong!
Type of Parent Abuse is:
Adolescent-to-Parent Abuse is a critical issue, that has been given restricted attention by researchers and
service providers. Most of the knowledge regarding this type of family crises violence is obtained by studies which
focus on intrafamilial personality, demographic issues and total rates of abuse. Therefore the information collected
out of partially formatted focus groups and personal interviews with parents, youths and service providers. Research
findings show a number of relating reasons that add to adolescent-to-parent abuse which happen across psychological, social
and political areas.
One out of ten
American male high school students based on a total of 1,545 have reportedly committed this type of violent act against
their parents. More commonly against the fathers versus mothers.
A California study found that caucasian youths are more likely to physically attack their parents than hispanics. These youths
reportedly are unhappy, bored in school or have low self-esteem.
Elderly parent abuse usually happens to parents 75 years or older and of the caucasian
race. Most often the abuser is female and going through some type addiction, financial crises or illness.
Anywhere from 1 million to 1/2 a million elderly are abused in this manner per year.
Living in Fear. . .
Reports have been given that
parents are afraid of their own children. Due to threats received from children, parents sleep with their bedroom
doors locked at night for safety. Some report locking their rooms for fear of their personal possessions being gone
when they return home for work. These are a few extreme cases but far from exaggeration. Most cases are not
so intense however, this abuse is sad.
Child Empowerment:
The
majority of parents struggle with defiant children. Children feel empowered by knowledge that if the child "feels like it " they can report parents for child abuse and have their parents arrested.
Sincere child abuse is a terrible thing, any parent found guilty should be prosecuted. However, parent abuse is a deplorable
state of affairs that needs to be discontinued. Once the oldest child bullies their parents it sets in motion the domino
effect with the younger children. When parents get help for the oldest child in a quick drastic manuever,
it will redirect the negative behavior of the remaining want to be defiant siblings.
There is an alternative for these situations: Call a "boot camp"
with specialist that handle defiant children.
