As I was scrolling through my social media feed, I stumbled upon a post that quickly went viral. It featured a silver-haired gentleman clad in a suit, wearing a self-satisfied grin, with the bold headline: “Expert Claims Parents — ‘You’re Doing It All Wrong.’”
This narrative isn’t unique to one individual; it often comes from psychologists, seasoned professionals, or even well-meaning baby boomers. The core message is consistent: Millennial parents are failing. Honestly, every time I encounter another article or meme labeling my parenting style as incorrect, I feel like I might just lose it.
Let’s Be Real
There’s no shortage of ways to parent incorrectly. If you sneak out for drinks while your toddler naps, that’s questionable. If you mistakenly put a diaper on your child’s head instead of their bottom, you might want to rethink your approach. And yes, allowing a toddler to sip hot coffee before they’re potty trained is definitely a no-go. There are glaringly obvious mistakes that anyone with a modicum of sense would recognize as wrong. Yet, the criticisms that we face rarely revolve around these clear-cut errors.
Instead, the judgments typically focus on our parenting methods: the language we use with our kids, our disciplinary techniques, the nutrition we provide, and more. We’re told we pamper them too much or not enough, that we set unrealistic expectations or fail to give them enough attention. It feels like no matter which category we find ourselves in, we are bound to be criticized.
What Millennial Parents Really Need
Millennial parents are in dire need of several essentials — fair wages, parental leave, solutions to the student debt crisis, and a good night’s sleep, to name just a few. What we do have in abundance, however, is information. Baby boomers often shake their heads at millennials who seem glued to their devices. Yet, many of us are simply seeking out the latest research, wondering if we missed something crucial during pregnancy, like taking fish oil to prevent asthma in our children.
With thousands of parenting books at our fingertips and daily updates on product recalls, the pressure to make the right decisions can be overwhelming. We don’t even need to leave our homes to face the judgment of fellow parents — online parenting groups are right there waiting. While having access to so much information can be beneficial, it can also become burdensome.
Honestly, I’d prefer to spend my limited free time dealing with the relentless whining of a certain animated character than listening to someone list all the ways millennials are supposedly failing as parents.
Valuing Experience
I truly value the insights of baby boomers, who have years of experience to draw upon. I know that parents of grown children have a clearer perspective on what truly matters in raising kids. I am open to learning from their experiences and recognizing the kernel of truth in their critiques.
Of course, I’m sure there are aspects of our parenting that we’ll look back on and cringe at, just as we do when we see outdated car seats or lawn darts that were once considered safe. It’s a wonder that we survived those parenting practices, and yet here we are, engaged in debates that can seem trivial.
Let Us Figure It Out
If you believe we’re getting it all wrong, then please, let us figure it out ourselves. Most of us are navigating this journey with little guidance, but we genuinely love our children and strive to provide them with the best possible life. So, a little faith in our abilities would go a long way. Or, if that feels too challenging, just close your eyes and hope for the best — like you did when Uncle Tim tried to impress everyone with his lawn darts.
Further Reading
For more tips on navigating the complexities of parenting and fertility, check out some of our other posts, including this insightful take on artificial insemination and the excellent resource for understanding home insemination. For those considering at-home options, Make A Mom offers reputable insemination kits that can help boost your fertility efforts.
In Summary
Millennial parents are often criticized for their parenting choices, yet these judgments rarely address the glaringly wrong practices. Instead, they focus on our methods, which can feel overwhelming. While we appreciate advice from older generations, we’re doing our best to love and care for our children. So perhaps a little encouragement would go a long way.