The Instagram account @mindfulmadre recently went viral with this post:
"We are becoming less tolerant of the pace of childhood. In a million ways we tell children: hurry up. Grow up. You are already behind."
Sometimes we rush our kids because we're rushing ourselves—or because we fear our kids will fall behind if they don't keep up with the increasing demands the world has of children, even very small ones.
But who decided that precocious preschoolers are really what we should be aiming for? What are the costs to rushing children? Are there small daily ways in which we can let kids do their own thing at their own paces?
In this episode we discuss:
how a "daily context of stress" affects developing brains
whether small pushbacks are enough, or at least better than nothing
the moments when we've let our kids move at their own paces—even (especially) at Disney World
Here are links to some writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode:
Laura Markham for Psychology Today: 11 Reasons to Stop Rushing Through Life
Alison Gopnik for The WSJ: What Children Lose When Their Brains Develop Too Fast
Kim John Payne: SIMPLICITY PARENTING
and these past episodes of our own:
"Fresh Take: Michaeleen Doucleff on Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans"
"Pushing Kids the Just-Right Amount"
"Fresh Take: Katherine May on Enchantment"
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Om Podcasten
When you're a parent, every day brings a "fresh hell" to deal with. In other words, there's always something. Think of us as your funny mom friends who are here to remind you: you're not alone, and it won't always be this hard.
We're Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables, both busy moms of three kids, but with completely different parenting styles. Margaret is a laid-back to the max; Amy never met a spreadsheet or an organizational system she didn't like.
In each episode of "What Fresh Hell" we offer lots of laughs, but also practical advice, parenting strategies, and tips to empower you in your role as a mom. We explore self-help techniques, as well as ways to prioritize your own needs, combat stress, and despite the invisible workload we all deal with, find joy amidst the chaos of motherhood.
If you've ever wondered "why is my kid..." then one of us has probably been there, and we're here to tell you what we've learned along the way.
We unpack the behaviors and developmental stages of toddlers, tweens, and teenagers, providing insights into their actions and equipping you with effective parenting strategies.
We offer our best parenting tips and skills we've learned. We debate the techniques and studies that are everywhere for parents these days, and get to the bottom of what works best to raise happy, healthy, fairly well-behaved kids, while fostering a positive parent-child relationship.
If you're the default parent in your household, whether you're a busy mom juggling multiple pickups and dropoffs, or a first-time parent seeking guidance, this podcast is your trusted resource. Join our community of supportive mom friends laughing in the face of motherhood!
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