39 Examples of Gaslighting Parents (2024)

Parents who gaslight cause their children to doubt their memory, judgment, or sanity by distorting facts, denying children’s experiences, and manipulating their feelings. Gaslighting is a subtle form of emotional abuse used to control children, evade responsibility, alienate another parent, mislead children about their gender identity, or belittle children’s feelings. Children with gaslighting parents can take steps to protect themselves from being confused by firmly stating their perspectives and avoiding getting caught up in emotional disputes.

• What is a gaslighting parent?
• Signs
• Causes
• Examples
• Effects
• How to deal with a gaslighting parent
• Am I being gaslit?

What is a gaslighting parent?

Gaslighting parents routinely distort facts, deny children’s experiences, and manipulate their feelings, making them doubt their memory, judgment, or sanity.^​1​ Parental gaslighting is a subtle and covert form of emotional abuse. These parents manipulate their children to undermine their sense of reality and mental stability, causing them to feel or seem “crazy”.

Well-meaning parents may sometimes gaslight their children in an attempt to protect them. For example, “You will love these vegetables as they are so yummy.”

However, some parents gaslight to exert control and power to escape responsibility or uphold a sense of authority in parent-child relationships. The toxic behavior can negatively affect children’s mental well-being and the effects can be long-lasting.

What are the signs of gaslighting parents?

Here are the 8 signs of gaslighting parents.

1. They deny their children’s experiences.
2. They twist facts to suit their own purposes.
3. They believe they are always right.
4. They never apologize.
5. They think they know what’s best for their children
6. They believe they know their children better than they know themselves
7. They keep dismissing their children’s feelings.

Why do parents gaslight?

Abusive parents gaslight for the following reasons.

• Control the narrative: The gaslighting parent wants only their versions of the fact heard.
• Deny wrongdoing: The gaslighting parent wants to hide their mistakes or deny abuse.
• Alienate another parent: The gaslighting parent manipulates their children to turn into alienating the other parent, a tactic known as parental alienation often used in custody battles.^​2​
• Mislead gender identity: The gaslighting parent tries to convince their transgender child that their understanding of their gender identity is mistaken or confused.^​3​
• Trivialize feelings: Dismiss a child’s emotion to avoid negative feelings.

What are examples of parent gaslighting?

Here are 39 examples of parent gaslighting.^​4​

1. Don’t be silly. That never happened.
2. Don’t be paranoid.
3. That is not true. You must be confused again.
4. That’s crazy.
5. There you go again, making things up.
6. Anybody can do that. You’re just making excuses.
7. You are wrong or you must have dreamed it.
8. I’ve never done that. It’s all in your head.
9. You failed because you had a bad attitude.
10. You remember wrong.
11. I did not do what you said.
12. No, you’re not tired. Now go finish your homework.
13. It’s not a big deal. You’re overreacting.
14. That’s ok. It’s just a small cut. It doesn’t hurt.
15. What are you talking about? What I did was so good for you.
16. You are cold and need to put on a coat.
17. Well, you survived, didn’t you?
18. I told you not to do this. Why didn’t you listen?
19. You could have finished it on time. Why did you let it happen?
20. You’ve changed. You used to be better at this.
21. No, you didn’t see that because I didn’t do it.
22. I put it there for you. You just ignored it.
23. Everybody knows that I’m a good parent.
24. The assignment is not too hard. You’re just being lazy.
25. No, you don’t need therapy. You just need a good sleep.
26. There is nothing wrong with me. You need to be more respectful.
27. The keys don’t lose themselves. You’re being irresponsible.
28. You were so lazy, why didn’t you try harder?
29. You should feel grateful because it was good for you.
30. No, it’s not. Your favorite color is blue.
31. You’re misunderstanding. That was not the case.
32. If you were determined to do well, you would have succeeded.
33. That’s not true. Your memory cannot be trusted.
34. If I had done that, it must have been done out of love.
35. I never manipulated you.
36. I absolutely didn’t do that. You’re just trying to make me look bad.
37. See I did all these for you. I’m such a good parent.
38. Everybody appreciated what I did, except you. Why is that?
39. I am right and everyone knows that, including your brothers and sisters.

How to respond to a gaslighting parent

To respond to a gaslighting parent and stop their gaslighting, first recognize when it happens. Avoid arguing about your perceptions and feelings, as gaslighters often aim to trigger your emotions. Simply state your facts and point out that they have an alternative reality that doesn’t match your experience.

What are the effects of gaslighting parents?

Here are the effects of gaslighting parents on children.

1. Confusion
2. Self-doubt
3. Low self-esteem
4. At risk for mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis in severe cases.^​5​
5. Negative impact on family relationships

Is gaslighting abuse?

Causing a child to question their reality and sanity is a form of emotional abuse that destroys a child’s confidence. As opposed to physical abuse, emotional abuse doesn’t show obvious signs like bruises or injuries.

How to deal with a gaslighting parent

Adult children who suffer from constant gaslighting from their parents can take the following steps to protect themselves^​6​.

Build a circle of support

Acknowledgment is a crucial part of healing childhood emotional abuse.

Having their suffering acknowledged and validated makes a significant difference in how a childhood trauma victim recovers^​7​.

It’s important to have friends who understand and acknowledge your experience.

Build a network of support who will acknowledge your suffering.

Your parent’s manipulative behavior can cause you to second-guess yourself and blame yourself for everything.

When you are in doubt, your support network can also give you a reality check.

Own your feelings

Accepting your own feelings without seeking permission from others.

To maintain their power, fathers or mothers who gaslight often ignore and dismiss their children’s feelings.

Trying to undermine someone’s feelings is just as persuasive as saying your perceptions are wrong: you’ll eventually be convinced that your reality is you “imagining” it.

Make it clear that you do not need their permission to feel.

Your feelings are your feelings. It’s like if you’re hungry, you’re hungry. That is not up to them to deny.

Don’t engage in arguments

After years of abuse, you are understandably looking for recognition and validation, but unfortunately, you are unlikely to get that from your manipulative parents.

Gaslighters are usually narcissistic and authoritarian.

Narcissistic parents will not accept that your memories (their faults) are real^​8​. Arguing with them about your experience is pointless.

However, history and reality don’t change based on who wins the argument.

Therefore, don’t try to win the conversation or convince them you’re right.

Set boundaries

Walk away from the conversation when they gaslight you by denying your experience.

Tell them you refuse to engage in a fight.

Avoiding arguments will not only save your sanity but will also prevent them from gaslighting you.

But this is not as easy as it sounds.

For some people, it may mean you won’t see them at all.

Sometimes, you have to choose between your parent-child relationship and your sanity.

Make your goal

Aim to live life to the fullest regardless of your childhood trauma.

If you have a toxic mother or father, you can’t change them.

So don’t make that your goal.

Reaching your full potential and living the best life possible are your goals.

Seek emotional comfort

Some adults who suffered from childhood emotional abuse report that additional emotional comfort, such as joining a religious group or getting a pet, has helped them cope^​9​.

Get therapy

It is hard for abused children to handle such a difficult situation on their own, even as adults.

An experienced mental health professional can give you extra support and help you in your healing journey.

Get family therapy

If your parent sincerely desires to amend your relationship, you can seek family therapy as a group as part of your healing process.

Am I being gaslit by my parents?

If you are a child who suspects you are being abused or severely gaslit by your parent, talk to your school counselor now. If no one believes you, speak to the authorities or keep finding another trusted adult until someone listens and takes you seriously.

If you are a grownup and what you are told is factually different from what you know, you are likely being gaslit. Take the steps above to protect yourself.

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