Accept his/her weakness and realize that at some point or another that abuse occurred in their lives as well. It may have been accepted as normal on their part, but today live 'your life' the best in knowing what's good for yourself first and then your children. At some point there was probably a thought that 'you' would love your kids and would have wanted better for them. Although they weren't born yet. Some parents treat their children based on their memories of how they were treated themselves. They may not have been brought up in an environment with good examples to model who could show affection and love. They then bring these memories into their present. They have not learned to forgive and forget and correct the behavior that was modeled for them.