I have the privilege of being friends with some incredible educators, many of whom have been in the field for decades, and my in-laws are both retired school principals. Over the years, I have often been fascinated by their perspective on how parenting has changed. All of them agree that this generation of parents is facing unprecedented challenges, and that this is, without a doubt, the worst generation of parenting.

In talking with my friends who are teachers, a common theme emerges: parents today are largely absent. It’s not just that they are physically absent, but emotionally and mentally as well. This generation of parents has replaced family meals with gadgets, presence with presents, and discipline with enabling. The most alarming part is that parents are actively shielding their children from facing the consequences of their actions. They make excuses for their behaviour, and often shift the blame to external factors. Instead of teaching their children accountability, they have become more focused on being their children’s friends.

Parents are often more concerned with their kids liking them than with building their character. We do their homework, we shield them from the outside world, yet we give them the freedom to access phones, the internet, and social media without any real boundaries.

What are we doing?

The reality is that this generation of parents is neglectful, but not in the traditional sense. It’s a neglect born out of guilt, guilt for the divorce that happened, guilt for working long hours, guilt for not being present enough, and sometimes even guilt for the things we didn’t provide. In an effort to make up for this perceived shortcoming, we indulge our children with material things and experiences, hoping to fill the emotional gaps. But this indulgence, often used as a tool to “keep score” with the other parent, is not beneficial for them in the long run.

We are enabling bad behaviour. This constant shielding from consequences and responsibility is creating a generation of children who lack accountability, resilience, and character. They are not learning to take responsibility for their actions, and many are growing up thinking that the world revolves around them and their desires. They are not learning how to handle disappointment, failure, or difficulty because they have been insulated from the real world.

In the worst cases, parents blame the teachers when the problems they are facing with their children stem directly from their own failure to parent effectively. Parents are the problem, yet they refuse to face the truth. Teachers, educators, and other professionals see this firsthand, and it’s clear that we are setting these children up for failure.

These children, as we know, will eventually grow up to become the leaders of tomorrow. If this trend continues, the future of our society is in jeopardy. If they are not being taught responsibility, accountability, and resilience now, how can we expect them to lead with wisdom, compassion, and foresight?

We cannot allow our guilt to dictate how we parent. We must stand firm, make difficult decisions, and raise our children to understand the importance of facing consequences and learning from their mistakes. We owe it to them, and to our future, to parent with intention and purpose, not out of guilt or fear of their rejection.

So, the next time you find yourself tempted to shield your child from the world, ask yourself: What am I teaching them? Am I preparing them to be leaders, or am I hindering their growth?

The future depends on the foundation we lay for them today. Let’s build a generation of strong, resilient leaders who understand the value of hard work, responsibility, and the strength that comes from overcoming adversity. Let’s stop enabling and start empowering.

Your children deserve more than an easy life, they deserve a life where they are equipped to rise above challenges and face them with resilience

With love, Sandra B

Your Resilience Expert