Is it normal for parents to joke to their kids that they are stupid or useless?

[Anonymous]

I heard a speaker spoke about the issue of parents calling their children stupid/useless, supposedly as a joke, but their children will take it literally.

Where do we draw the line?

[slatyb]

Normal? It's sadly common, and it's abusive. People who were spoken to that way by their parents often do the same to their children. Or they may remember how they felt and vow to not treat their children that way.

[Asker]

Yes, I am basically the latter. But I find that it has made me awkward with people in general since people usually want to call others stupid. When they see that I don't agree with them on calling others stupid, they just feel awkward around me.

[slatyb]

You should find a better class of friends.

[exitseven]

no, kids put a lot of stock in what their parents say about them. Kids are not stupid. They just make mistakes,

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[random_girl95]

I think that parents should not be making jokes like this in general about their children.

[Mynameisbobby]

I think even as a joke it's abusive. Not a very funny one.

[jshm2]

What males you think they are jokes, though?