In relation to cutting ties with toxic family members, one TikTok user shares a powerful story emphasizing the importance of understanding and supporting those who make such decisions.
Chassity Marchal, known as @chatswithchass on TikTok, opens up about her own experience of going “no contact” with her mother and addresses the misconceptions surrounding this choice.
Marchal acknowledges that severing ties with a parent is a difficult decision and not one taken lightly. Despite attempts at reconciliation, she realized that enduring patterns of mistreatment required her to prioritize her well-being and establish boundaries.
Rejecting the notion that a toxic parent’s limited time should warrant continued contact, Marchal illustrates the absurdity of such advice by comparing it to a situation of spousal mistreatment, where reconciliation would not be encouraged.
Asserting the importance of self-care and personal boundaries, Marchal emphasizes, “I have boundaries. I’m not going to let people treat me just whichever way they want to treat me.”
While she acknowledges the challenges and unhappiness associated with the situation, she highlights the need to prioritize oneself and make decisions based on what is ultimately best for mental and emotional health.
Marchal’s video resonates with many viewers who have had similar experiences. Commenters agree that it is not a child’s responsibility to fix damaged relationships with their parents, underscoring that the onus lies with the parent or caregiver.
The sentiment is echoed by users who share their own stories of toxic family members and the lasting effects of their mistreatment. These testimonials shed light on the reality that being family does not excuse or justify treating someone poorly.
A TikTok user, Ollie Quality, stitches Marchal’s video and further explores the profound damage experienced by children before reaching the decision to go “no contact.”
He acknowledges that children understand the hardships and trauma their parents have faced, but this does not absolve parents of the responsibility for the emotional, physical, or spiritual harm inflicted upon their children.