Remember those summer days that stretched on forever? No phones buzzing, no parents tracking your every move, just you and your mates figuring things out until the streetlights came on. I grew up in the 80s outside Manchester, and looking back, I realize how different childhood was then. We didn't have helicopter parents or participation trophies; we had scraped knees, hurt feelings, and parents who expected us to sort it out ourselves.
"My kids are so invested in their children it's beautiful! They use gentle parenting techniques, even with challenging personalities; provide them with healthy outlets and nurture their friends as well. They're 100% better than I was - but I had to do it alone with five children. I'd choose my kid's parenting over mine, every time!" - Anne W.
Every generation of parents believes they are fixing the mistakes of the last. But in trying to eliminate discomfort, boredom, and failure, some modern parenting trends may be creating new problems instead. What feels like protection can quietly turn into control. What feels like support can slide into avoidance. And what feels like kindness can, over time, undermine resilience.
I was never grounded. I never got my phone taken away. My parents really never yelled at me, and I feel like they had a pretty controversial parenting style, but it's also the exact way that I would raise my kids if I were to have them. I was allowed to do whatever I wanted to do. I was allowed to go to parties. I was allowed to drink. I told my mom before I smoked weed for the first time.
