Many parents often unconsciously direct their child toward their own desires and needs, which can have long-term consequences on the child's emotional development.

Parents sometimes unknowingly pressure their children into activities they are not interested in, such as soccer, to fit into social norms or due to pressure from other parents, according to the New York Post.

They may also react angrily to poor grades because they are concerned about what others, such as teachers, will think of their child.

Although this is not a specific parenting style, such behavior often arises when a parent feels the need to control or preserve their own image. This approach can negatively affect the child’s emotional health, as the parent is more focused on their own feelings than on the child’s actual needs.

Parental Ego Affects Children

“Ego parenting is a parenting approach where the parent makes decisions based on their own need to feel good, be right, have control, or receive validation.

In this approach, the focus is not on supporting the child’s development, but on preserving the parent’s image or emotional state,” says mental health therapist Cheryl Grosskopf.

Examples of “ego parenting” include situations where a parent refuses to back down from an argument, forces the child into activities they are not interested in, or avoids making excuses to maintain an authoritative stance.

Dr. Carolina Fenkel, an expert in adolescent mental health, warns that although “ego parenting” is not always a conscious decision, its impact can be long-lasting. Parents may unintentionally teach their children that their love is conditional.

“Children often adopt the belief that love is conditional, that they are worthy only when they behave, feel, or achieve something in a certain way,” explains Dr. Fenkel.

This approach can lead to serious issues such as anxiety, perfectionism, low self-esteem, and fear of failure.

Dr. Fenkel recommends that when you notice you are reacting from the ego, you pause and ask yourself: “Is this based on my child’s needs or my own feelings?”

Self-awareness is a crucial step toward changing your parenting approach. Instead of focusing on winning every disagreement, parents should listen to their children, validate their feelings, and try to understand their perspective on the situation.

It is also important to learn how to apologize. Acknowledging your own mistakes will not weaken your authority as a parent, but will demonstrate responsibility and a willingness to grow.

Dr. Fenkel emphasizes that a parent who admits their mistake to their child allows the child to accept imperfection.

Letting go of ego and embracing humility helps create a safer and healthier emotional environment, which is the foundation for building a true connection with your child, rather than control.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and we can inherit many physical traits from our parents — as well as diseases. From each parent, we "pick up" two copies of every gene, and mutations in certain genes are the main trigger for hereditary diseases.

First on the list is high cholesterol, for which we can entirely “blame” the family, says American geneticist Shivani Nazareth.

“One in 500 people has a genetic mutation that causes familial hypercholesterolemia — an inherited heart disease that can lead to premature heart attacks or strokes,” Nazareth reveals, adding that those suffering from familial hypercholesterolemia cannot regulate their cholesterol, which then accumulates in the veins – reports the portal Biti roditelj.

Not even strict diets or physical activity can help, because in this case, genes have already done their part, says Nazareth.

And while both parents can be responsible for high cholesterol, breast cancer can be inherited from the father.

Namely, every person is born with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are harmless until they mutate. However, women who inherit a mutation in one or both BRCA genes from their father have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Dr. Nazareth explains that these genes are not dangerous for men’s health since breast cancer is rare among men, but the same cannot be said for women.

If you’re blaming the men in your family for hair loss — you’re looking in the wrong direction. The gene that plays a key role in baldness is located on the X chromosome, which men always inherit from their mothers, while women inherit the same gene from both parents.

Type 2 diabetes is most commonly linked to an unhealthy lifestyle, but research shows that as many as five percent of young people show signs of this disease despite not being overweight and exercising regularly.

Here too, the issue is a genetic mutation — a form of diabetes scientists have called MODY.

Early detection of patients with the MODY subtype of diabetes is very important, as they require different treatment that can control the disease for years without complications, says Dr. Nazareth.

But lifelong complications arise with lactose intolerance.

Congenital lactose intolerance is a rare condition caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the enzyme lactase. It manifests as severe watery diarrhea occurring soon after the first milk feeding (breastfeeding).

Nutrient loss is significant, meaning the newborn does not gain weight, and dehydration, hypoglycemia, and acidosis can develop.

Once a lactose-free diet is introduced, diarrhea stops, the child gains weight, and growth and development normalize.

This condition is lifelong and requires a permanent lactose-free diet.

Congenital lactose intolerance is rare, but 65 percent of adults have experienced digestive issues after consuming dairy, says Nazareth, adding that lactose sensitivity decreases with age in most people.

The family tree plays a major role in hereditary disease risk, warns Nazareth. You can record all the diseases affecting your immediate and extended family to identify genetic predispositions for certain conditions.

However, some diseases can remain “hidden” for several generations, making them undetectable through this method, writes 24sata.

Chronic Headaches Are Also Hereditary

The tendency for long-lasting and severe headaches accompanied by nausea is hereditary in 70 to 80 percent of cases, claims Dr. Kate Henry from New York University. Scientists have discovered that a gene called TRESK causes migraines, and it is often inherited from parents.

We Inherit Heart Disease from Our Mothers

If your mother had heart problems, you are 20 percent more likely to have them too, revealed four separate scientific studies. The way a mother’s heart attack affects our risk is not fully understood, but it is clear, experts say.

Mental Illnesses Can Also Be Inherited

There is about a 10 percent chance of inheriting a predisposition for depression, according to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. Experts explain that depression is just one of several mental disorders that can be inherited, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

It's not easy for parents to watch their child struggle with failure.

Whether it's a bad grade, missed goal, or disagreements with peers, every parent's natural instinct is to comfort their child, fix the situation, or completely avoid it.

But psychologists agree – failure is sometimes an unavoidable and necessary part of growing up, and the way a child learns to cope with it is key to developing resilience, self-confidence, and perseverance.

If we respond to our child's failure with disappointment or anger, the child may conclude that their love and acceptance depend on their success.

Instead, it’s important to show understanding and acknowledge their emotions:

“I see that you’re disappointed. I know you tried.”

Praise the Effort, Not the Result

Instead of praising the grade, praise the persistence:

“You practiced a lot, and it shows.”

Praising effort develops intrinsic motivation and reduces the fear of making mistakes.

Don't "Rescue" the Child Every Time

Sometimes, the hardest thing is to let the child feel the consequences.

If they forgot their homework, don’t take it to school for them. If they lost a game, talk about it later but don’t pull them out of every uncomfortable situation.

This teaches responsibility and provides experience.

Learning Through Conversation

After failure, instead of criticizing, discuss what the child learned from the situation and what they could do differently next time.

This helps the child develop self-reflection and empowers them to see mistakes as part of the learning process, reports Index.hr.