Should Parents Ignore Their Kids More Often?
Why a clinical psychologist argues for 'mindful underparenting'
I don't have kids, but 80 percent of my friends do.
As a friend to parents and a fan of their kids, I regularly witness parents who are stretched to the breaking point. A lot of their stress, at least in the United States, has to do with the fact that these parents are often overworked and under-supported in terms of government services such as paid maternity and paternity leave or subsidized childcare.
However, some portion of that stress comes from a relatively new phenomenon: the sense among parents that it is their job to cater to their children's desires (not needs) and keep them constantly entertained.
At no point in history has parenting operated this way. If you are an elder Millennial, a member of Gen X, or older, "stop bothering me" or "I don't want to see your face again" were things you probably heard from your parents on a regular basis. Nobody asked about your preference for how to spend the day or where to vacation.