All parents who are too rule-based must be controlling. There’s a major difference between setting consistent rules and manipulating emotions. A strict parent may say, “Homework first, play later,” but a toxic parent may tie a child’s worth to achievement: “Only toppers deserve love in this house.”
Strict parenting focuses on discipline and structure, while toxic parenting often invades emotional spaces. It doesn’t just tell a child what to do; it tells them how to feel, often dismissing or shaming those feelings.
