When parents gossip about one child to another, they aren't just "venting" - they're creating division. They're pulling their children into adult issues they were never meant to carry. This is called triangulation, and it slowly teaches kids to choose sides, question their own worth, and carry guilt that was never theirs to begin with. Growing up in a home where adults whispered, blamed, and compared instead of communicating with honesty and accountability leaves wounds that take years to unlearn. It forces a child to grow up too fast, to become the emotional caretaker, and to navigate relationships drenched in tension and fear. This isn't healthy. This isn't love. This is emotional abuse. And breaking that cycle is one of the bravest things a parent can do.