Parents very often want the best for their children. However, these good intentions may not necessarily translate well into how they raise their children. What these parents deem to be well-intentioned may actually be harmful to the development of the child, be it in terms of their mental health or interactions. In more extreme cases, this behaviour may be termed as toxic parenting. In such a case, the implications on the child may even last well into adulthood. This project, titled ‘Excess Baggage’, intends to investigate why and how toxic parenting behaviours are executed, and to analyse the impact it has on children and society at large.

Having experienced toxic parenting, this project also seeks to document the author’s personal journey of confrontation, self-reflection, revision, and recovery through significant milestones and events in her life. In so doing, the author hopes to bring the viewer along in her journey as she comes to terms with the impact of toxic parenting in her life, and as she begins to heal from her experiences.