Parents we sometimes say harmful things to our children — without realising it.  We don’t set out to say hurtful or harmful things to our children, but it happens. You’re tired, they’re pushing your buttons, and you’re frustrated after asking them for the 600th time to clear their plates or get out the door on time. You could also be inadvertently repeating things you heard in your childhood that your parents didn’t realize took an emotional toll.

As parents, we are trying our best, but sometimes — a lot of times — we fall short. That’s why it can be helpful to know some of the potentially damaging phrases parents often resort to without realizing their impacts.