Lauren Eaton Spencer, a gentle parent, struggled with her son’s strong opinions on clothing, leading to frustration and tears. Recent doubts have been raised about the sustainability of gentle parenting, with 40% of gentle parents experiencing burnout. Critics believe it promotes unrealistic expectations. The concept gained popularity during the pandemic but is now being challenged as too gentle, requiring parents to be self-renouncing and perpetually present. Some parents are turning to lighthouse parenting, a middle ground approach between being overprotective and overindulgent, emphasizing being a stable force in a child’s life.
Gentle parenting, while popular on social media, lacks scholarly backing, leading to doubts about its effectiveness. Proponents like Sarah Ockwell-Smith emphasize empathy and collaboration over punishment and correction. Some believe gentle parenting has led to an overload of advice, making every interaction seem consequential. Parents are urged to trust their intuition and be less reliant on external guidance. Researchers suggest a return to authoritative parenting, balancing clear expectations, discipline, and affection. This parenting style has been shown to create confident and successful children.
The pressure to be intensely hands-on with children has made modern parenting harder, with less room for parent’s imperfections. Some parents, like Mariah Maddox, find it challenging to strictly adhere to one parenting style and opt to blend different approaches, like being authoritative when necessary. Experts advise parents to trust their intuition and not rely too heavily on external guidance as they have been raising children successfully for centuries. Ultimately, the best parents are those who trust themselves to do what is right for their child.
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