- Never being clear with an answer
A contributor to Scary Mommy tells how she really felt as a child when she evaded direct answers:
“I don’t know’ was my answer to most questions. I was always afraid to give the wrong answer and felt judged for most of what I said. Even when I did ask for help, it was invalidated.” — Rhonda M.”
If a child receives criticism and judgment for their input or answers to questions, they begin to never answer questions fully as a defense mechanism to stop the negative feelings.
Children should feel encouraged to explore their opinions and speak what they are going through with unconditional acceptance.