Gentle Parenting
“Millennials are like, “We have anxiety because we were yelled at.” And Gen Z is like, “We have anxiety because we were never yelled at.””
Gentle parenting has taken over social media, promising a world where children are treated with empathy, respect, and validation. But as with every parenting trend, it’s worth asking: Does this actually work?
The concept, popularized by author Sarah Ockwell-Smith, rejects punishments and focuses on guiding children through emotions rather than imposing strict rules. In theory, it sounds great—kids learn emotional intelligence and feel heard. But in practice, does it prepare them for a world that won’t always cater to their feelings?
Critics argue that without clear boundaries, children raised with gentle parenting may struggle with authority and discipline. If every meltdown is met with validation rather than consequence, how do these kids react when faced with rejection or criticism in adulthood?
In our latest ‘toon, I sit down with Stacey—who was raised with gentle parenting—to explore how it’s affected her as an adult. From struggling with authority figures to expecting professors to negotiate grades, the results might surprise you.
So, is gentle parenting an enlightened approach to raising emotionally aware kids? Or are we just creating a generation that crumbles the first time life says “no”?
