Perfectionist parents seem to operate under the illusion that if they can just get their children to be perfect, they will be a perfect family. They put the burden of stability on the child to avoid facing the fact that they, as parents, cannot provide it. The child fails and becomes the scapegoat for family problems. Once again, the child is saddled with the blame.
Susan Forward, Toxic Parents: Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy and Reclaiming Your Life
bad-parents, blame, family, scapegoat