A friend shared what I think is a fascinating experiment she saw on Instagram that had many hopeful outcomes as parents engaged their own children in this “finish the sentence” experiment. Those of you who have children in your life might want to try this.
On May 12, 2025, the Today Show shared a segment they entitled “Kids React to Classic ‘Toxic Parenting’ Lines, and It’s Making People Emotional.”
In the show they say, “A viral social media trend is showing just how much the script has changed in modern parenting.”
Here are some of the “finish the sentence” statements parents shared and some of the responses of the children:
“Children should be… ” (seen and not heard) or “I brought you into this world and I can…” (take you out), only for their kids to reply with adorably sweet answers like “children” and “feed you.”
The trend appears to have started with Denstini Davis, 32, who was driving with her 7-year-old daughter, Phoenix Scot, in Hampton, Virginia, when she began asking her to finish classic parenting lines like “I’ll give you something to cry about.”
In a video posted to Instagram, Phoenix offered up unexpected endings to the phrases, earning laughs and launching a viral moment. The clip quickly took off, racking up over 9 million likes within days of being posted.
In the now-viral video, Davis quizzes her daughter from the front seat of their car:
“Finish the sentence, ready?” she asks.
“OK,” Phoenix replies.
“I’m not one of…” Davis begins. (Your little friends.) “Us,” Phoenix guesses.
“A hard head makes a soft…” (Behind.) “Pillow.”
“Children should be…” (Seen and not heard.) “Children.”
“I’ll give you something to…” (Cry about.) “Eat.”
According to the website Parenting Patch, “These parents are breaking generational trauma. They took phrases that were common for parents of the last few generations to use, but that we now recognize as harmful or toxic (either always or in some uses) and tested whether their kids were familiar with them.”
In another article from the Psychology Today website posted on May 21, 2025, author Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. shares the following information:
“This trend appeals to so many of us. It gives us a moment of external validation. If your child answers with something emotionally safe, you get that dopamine hit of ‘maybe I’m not a toxic parent after all.’ If they respond with the classic punchline (‘and I can take you out of it!’), you might spiral—feeling like your child has absorbed some legacy you desperately wanted to rewrite.”
She adds some important acknowledgements and suggestions:
“Here’s what I want you to hear: The way your child finishes that sentence doesn’t define your parenting. And it definitely doesn’t define your worth.
Here’s the actual truth: Just because you feel damaged doesn’t mean you will damage your child. You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be present.”
Some recommendations from the article:
- “Keep the camera off. One of the truly toxic parenting trends we are starting to recognize is sharenting—oversharing your child’s private moments online. You can absolutely explore this trend without posting your child’s face or voice.
- Use it as a conversation starter. If your child answers with something unexpected—or even uncomfortable—don’t panic. Ask, “What made you think that?” or “What do you think that phrase means?” You might learn something valuable.
- Watch your shame spiral. If your child gives a more “traditional” answer, it doesn’t mean they’re damaged. It might just mean they heard the phrase in a movie, at a relative’s house, or interpreted it differently. Pause. Breathe. No judgment.”
Some more recommendations and word of encouragement: “If you’ve been part of this trend and it made you smile, that’s wonderful. If it made you pause or panic—welcome to the real work of post-traumatic parenting.
The instinct to check if we’re ‘doing it right’ comes from a beautiful place. It means we care. But the work of healing is shifting from checking to trusting. Learning to listen to our gut again. To let parenting be relational, not performative. To accept that our kids don’t need perfect parents. They need safe, present, and attuned ones.
So go ahead—ask the question if you want to. But whatever the answer is, remind yourself: You’re not toxic. You’re trying. You’re healing. And that matters more than any punchline ever could.”
Isn’t it interesting how one person’s curiosity about what her child knew and didn’t know turned into something so much deeper and helpful?
Invitation for Reflection
- What were some of your overall reactions to the information?
- Were there things that surprised you? Challenged you? Inspired you?
- How familiar were you with the classic endings to the sentences? Did you hear them a lot in your childhood? If so, how do you think they impacted you?
- If you tried it with a child in your family, what were the reactions? What did you learn about them as a result?
Diane Wagenhals
Director Emeritus, Lakeside Global Institute