Alex's Answer

Hi, welcome to Ask Alex. Thank you for reaching out to us, we know it is not always easy to reach out for support and we think you are really brave.  

You are wondering if your parents are allowed to call you swear words or say mean things to you if you are bad at schoolwork. It is important to know that no one has a right to call you swear words or say mean things to you. We are sorry to hear that this is happening to you, and we would be concerned about this.

Being called swear words or being called mean things is not a nice thing and can leave anyone feeling very hurt. It is understandable to question this, and it sounds like there might be quite a bit going on for you presently. It can sometimes help to talk to a trusted adult about what is going on at home. Do you think you could talk to a trusted adult about this? This adult could be another family member, a teacher, neighbour or youth worker. It is important that you know that you do not have to go through this on your own.  
 
If you feel you cannot talk to a trusted adult yet, you can always reach out to us on Childline. We would love to hear from you. You can contact us at 1800 666 666 or through our online webchat service at www.chidline.ie (just click on the orange Live Chat tab!). We can talk through what options may be available for you, and help you come up with a plan on how to talk to your parents about what has happened. 

Take care of yourself,  

Alex