Why Gentle Parenting Is Breaking Us

Caroline and Eva discuss their growing frustration with today’s parenting expectations — from over-scheduling kids to using “gentle” language instead of real discipline. They miss the days when kids were allowed to be bored, independent, and a little feral … rather than constantly programmed. Maybe benign neglect wasn’t the worst strategy, and telling your kid to shut the f**k up once in a while won't cause any permanent damage.

Don’t worry, Eva and Caroline would never yell or curse at their kids… except when their kids deserve it. And studies show people who swear often have higher verbal and creative fluency. So who's the genius now? They ask the big question: Are we raising resilient, empathetic, independent humans, or over-coddled perfection projects who can’t think or do for themselves?

It’s time to rethink what kids actually need: boundaries, accountability, character … and a little less pressure to be future Harvard robots.

REFERENCES:

Mother.ly article:
https://www.mother.ly/news/viral-trending/why-modern-parenting-feels-impossible/

Retail Math link:
https://youtu.be/I_3kHURyv4I?si=KOnTInjV9GHN62O7

Dan Senor
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/call-me-back-with-dan-senor/id1539292794?i=1000734986142

Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209281163

How to Dress Like a Gentleman — and Why
https://www.thefp.com/p/elliot-ackerman-how-to-dress-like-a-gentleman

We’re two New York City women talking candidly about the chaos of modern life, from relationships, parenting, working in and out of the home, to what it takes to stay semi-sane in a world that expects you to hold it all together and be #blessed.

We couldn’t find an honest and vulnerable conversation — so we started one! If you need a laugh, a cry, or just want to hear someone else admit their flaws and validate your crazy, you’re in the right place. Be ready to be… Unfiltered, Unafraid, and UnExpert.

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Surgeon General Warning Disclaimer: We are self-prescribed unexperts, so if you have any real questions or need real advice, please call your nearest doctor.

© 2025 Eva Heyman & Caroline Leventhal