Permission to Parent

Children used to be seen and not heard. Now they are the center of their parents' universe. We need to find a graceful middle way.

Parents today seem skittish about asserting their parental authority. They indulge children's demands, tantrums, and endless negotiations for fear of hurting their children's feelings. Sadly, this is creating a generation of psychologically fragile kids, and parents are undermining the very self-esteem they are trying so earnestly to build. "Tiger mom," "helicopter parent," "the cool dad"—between these extremes lies a better way to raise thriving, well-adjusted children.