And, unfortunately, in the name of God. Perhaps you're now a parent, and you sometimes see yourself repeating what your parents did to you. Monster on Your Shoulders David Schopick uses the metaphor of a monster transferred from one generation to another to describe abuse. When a parent or loved one verbally abuses a child, or when a child is battered or sexually molested, a vicious monster is transferred from one person to another. Often, the abusive parent is in a great deal of pain, and this pain, too great for the parent to bear, is inflicted on the child instead.
Studies show child abuse is passed down through the generations.
Not all abused children become abusive parents, but if you were abused, it's highly likely one or both of your parents were abused. If you know of no better way to deal with your own children, you are going to be tempted to repeat the abuse. Though you desperately want to give your children the kind of loving parenting that you missed, rearing children is not easy. You're called on to exercise a level of patience, tolerance and flexibility you didn't know was possible. You start with yourself.