Hypersensitive parenting

👉 This is part of A Sensitive World

Parenting and empathy movements are reaching new extremes, reflecting a hyper-surveilled and hyper-sensitive society. 

One example is the evolution of “helicopter parenting” into “drone parenting,” via technology that enables parents to monitor children’s lives in real time with tools like GPS trackers and surveillance apps. This hyper vigilance fosters a climate of over-protection and diminished independence. What happened to BMX’s and ducking around the neighbours to watch cartoons? 

Meanwhile, empathy-driven retreats like “Radical Honesty” push emotional openness to uncomfortable levels. 

“You’ll live together and experiment with telling the truth out loud, sharing what you notice about others, about your body, and about the thoughts going through your mind. You’ll get to experience your experience and express yourself fully in our “brave-space” workshop setting.”

Here participants are encouraged to share unfiltered thoughts and feelings - with the aim to express yourself fully. 

Most interesting because
We’re witnessing the commodification of control and vulnerability. Parenting has turned into a high-tech cotton wool, and empathy retreats have become emotional arenas.  In both cases, the pursuit of safety and connection ironically leads to anxiety. Maybe it’s time to let kids scrape their knees and keep a few thoughts to ourselves.