Still thinking about this essay the day after I read it. I don’t make a habit of taking my child-rearing advice from Tik Tok, but I don’t feel exempt from the overall warning Emily Phillips offers.

If I am not seeing the results I expect when parenting, will I think to first question my parenting techniques, or will I automatically assume that there is something wrong with the child and inadequately self-diagnose them? I’m not even just talking about neurodivergency, but other things, too, like “is my child rebellious” or “he’s just more sensitive”. I don’t want to stick to my guns so hard that I attack my child’s character when they don’t respond in the way I’d hope.

May we all be humble enough to do what is right by our children when we are put to the test.