11/13/2025
WHEN PARENTS GOSSIP ABOUT ONE CHILD TO ANOTHER CHILD, THEY ARE TRIANGULATING THE FAMILY. THIS IS A FORM OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE.
This behavior may seem harmless, but it's a toxic tactic that can have long-lasting effects on your children's emotional well-being and your family dynamics. By sharing confidential information or speaking negatively about one child to another, you're creating a sense of unease, guilt, and anxiety.
You're forcing your children to take sides, to carry burdens they're not meant to carry, and to question their relationships with each other and with you. This can lead to sibling rivalry, low self-esteem, and difficulties with trust and intimacy in the future.
As a parent, your role is to nurture, protect, and support your children, not to use them as emotional messengers or confidants. Break the cycle of emotional abuse by being mindful of your words and actions. Foster a safe, loving, and respectful environment where your children can thrive.