I had this experience, when I was a kid I was constantly told I didn’t understand because I was a kid. I was insulted, belittled, taught that all my thoughts were “wrong”. Not realizing I was being raised by stunted, adult-sized kids. It’s not entirely their fault, the generation before theirs was even harsher, and so on, backwards in time.

Hopefully we can begin to break the cycle. Today kids have outlets and access to information about their situation, for example they can ask ChatGPT, “What should I do when my mommy calls me dumb?”

ChatGPT’s response, “It’s not okay for anyone, including your mom, to call you dumb. If this happens, it’s important to talk to her about how it makes you feel and express that it’s hurtful. It might be a good idea to seek support from someone you trust, like another family member or a counselor, to help address the situation. Remember, you are not defined by anyone else’s words or opinions.”

Damn, that certainly would’ve helped me.

There are varying levels of abuse, preventing isolation so that warning signs can be identified and catching it early is the best remedy I can think of, but I’m no expert. I’m just an adult-sized kid doing my best.