Verbal Abuse

By now many people have heard the phone message from Alec Baldwin to his daughter. Let me first of all say I think it’s wrong that the public has access to this.  It’s none of our business.  What it does bring up though is the whole subject of verbal abuse.  What we heard on that tape is not rare.  Many parents lose control and get into a fit of rage with their children.  The impact of that kind of tirade on a child is profound.  Harsh words stay with us forever.  They’re an assault on our whole sense of self.  We become outraged as a society when we hear about a radio announcer degrading women of a certain color.  Verbally assaulting a child warrants the same kind of outrage.  It’s damaging to the soul. 

Parents who verbally assault their children don’t want to be that way.  They are often riddled with guilt but can’t seem to stop themselves.  Their outbursts are about them, not their children.  Emotionally, they are still children themselves.  They need help and thankfully there is no end of resources to help .