Although the majority of stepparents sincerely try to provide their kids with a happy and healthy childhood, even they occasionally make mistakes that can necessitate future therapy sessions.
Unfortunately, some of them go beyond making the occasional error and cross the line into becoming poisonous.
When a step-father is intentionally toxic, several actions can harm a child’s emotional and mental development to the point where it has a lasting impact on them even as adults.
Your stepfather is likely at least moderately toxic if you went through any of the following as a child.
1. Abuse :
We’ll start with the most important one, abuse.
Abuse, whether it be physical, emotional, or sexual, can have a severe impact on a child and lead to issues into adulthood. And this is one of the treatments you may likely receive from a bad stepfather.
This may cause individuals to lose their confidence, adopt harmful coping mechanisms, and end up in toxic relationships.
Abuse affects both physical and mental health over the long term and has a constant negative impact on both.
It should go without saying that if your child is being abused, quick action needs to be taken.
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2. Child negligence:
The physical or mental abuse of your children might have negative effects on them.
Neglecting a child is a fairly common kind of character exhibited by a bad stepfather and this can be just as damaging as physical abuse.
A child’s mental health and social development can be impacted, and it may even result in lifetime emotional scars, if their needs are not met, they are left unattended, or they are put in risky settings.
The development of a child’s brain, conduct, and language can also be badly impacted by neglect.
If a stepfather showcases negligence on his part, he needs to be corrected immediately because this is a major warning sign that he is not a nice stepfather.
3. A bad example as a father :
The American Psychological Association claims that kids frequently mimic the actions they see adults doing.
No matter where this occurs—at home, in the car, or even at the store.
Is he going too fast or too erratically to enjoy himself a little? He’s not only providing a poor example, but he’s also putting your children at risk and not prioritizing their safety if your children are in the car and he’s acting like a child himself.
To harm your children physically and psychologically, all it takes is one careless act.
Is he a heavy or frequent drinker? What sort of role model is that for your children? Children absorb everything and retain it as well, making them like sponges. Additionally, if a bad stepfather is setting a poor example for your children to follow when you are around, you can be sure he is doing the same, if not worse, when you are not there.
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4. Favoritism among kids :
Another sign of a bad step father is favouritism among your kids. A stepfather might either show bias toward your children or favor his own above yours in this two-tiered category.
When he favors one child over another, it can be extremely harmful in any case and it shows a sign of a toxic step Father.
Disfavored children suffer terrible consequences across the board, including higher rates of depression, increased aggression, lower self-esteem, and worse academic performance.
Many of these effects linger long after children have grown up and left the house, and some may even continue to have an impact on their relationships and self-esteem as adults.
5. Intrusive:
It’s okay for a new stepdad to take things carefully at first and seek to develop love and trust with your kids, but taking charge right away is a warning sign as sign of a bad stepfather
He is being domineered, dominating, and not setting a good example for your children if he wants your children’s obedience and respect and demands to be the one to discipline them.
Additionally, he can struggle with controlling his anger, which could result in irrational outbursts that endanger you and your kids.
Be on a watch as a mother.
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6. Over pampering
What drives this person? What does he intend to do? Does he spoil your children or does he buy them presents every other day to win them over? Is he showing children, conditional love, instilling in them the idea that you only get attention or presents if you follow others’ instructions? Does he intend to replace the old “dad”? Even though excessive pampering or participation may seem to be the opposite of neglect, it can nonetheless be harmful. It can spoil a child by making them too needy and demanding, leading them to believe that their value is determined by how much attention and what they have.
7. He Bad Mouths Your Mom:
As we discussed before, kids are sponges. If their stepfather is bad-mouthing you, the kids are watching.
Not only does it create a hostile environment in what should be a safe place, but it also could emotionally trigger your kids, especially if your previous marriage was filled with verbal bombshells as well.
Your children might fear that another divorce is looming, as well as all the other negative effects that went along with it.
Furthermore – what is he teaching your children? In essence, is lowering the standards of what your child believes they deserve in their future relationships?
These are possible red flags to watch out for.
Bad Mouthing someone might appear innocuous compared to the other items on the list, but as you can see, it holds much more weight than what appears on the surface.
Take home
A child who grows up with toxic parents is left with lasting psychological effects that may last into adulthood.
Knowing the tell tale indications of a toxic parent will help you determine whether you may have had a toxic father as a child and break the cycle.
The best method to evaluate and enhance your family dynamic is to locate a competent therapist who can guide you through the process
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