I am that kid, a few decades later. My parents were having a tough time, and because they weren't emotionally equipped to cope, be civil and go to a therapist to be honest with themselves and get a grip, they took it out on us. Especially on me. Super controlling very suddenly. It was traumatizing and damaged my trust with them. More importantly, it damaged my self worth in a way that I could only begin to process in the following years.

Parents who have shitty dynamics in their own lives often take it out on their kids. They might be great people who are making poor choices, but it doesn't matter if they can't let go of their egos. Parents, get a fucking grip. I'm telling you, TIME does not simply fix things. It's the effort you put into fixing yourself during that time, and it's gonna be an uphill battle to repair that damage. I know it's tough. But there really is no other choice. Get help. Don't imprison your kids.