AMA: How do I parent in the face of so much existential crisis?
Jul 4, 2024
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Anya Kamenetz, a climate activist, parent, former NPR journalist, and author of five books on young people's mental health, joins the conversation. They tackle the emotional complexities of parenting amid existential crises and the importance of creating supportive environments for children. Anya shares insights on discussing difficult topics and emphasizes 'parenting as activism.' The need for resilience, connection, and enjoying nature despite its degradation is central, inspiring hope and practical skills for the future generation.
Addressing the climate crisis with children requires open dialogue that promotes emotional resilience and supports their mental wellness.
Parents should cherish meaningful moments with their children while fostering independence through community engagement and diverse interactions.
Deep dives
Navigating Parenting in a Crisis-Ridden World
Parenting amidst crises requires a delicate balance between addressing harsh realities and providing emotional support for children. The conversation highlights the importance of acknowledging the climate crisis and its implications on children's futures, while fostering an environment that encourages open dialogue about these challenges. It emphasizes that parents should not shield their children from the truth but instead ensure they are not left to face it alone, promoting resilience and emotional intelligence. This approach involves creating a supportive network of adults and resources that can help parents manage their emotions and provide sound guidance for their children.
The Concept of the 'Golden Hour'
The 'golden hour' concept is explored as both a metaphor for precious parenting moments and an urgent call to action in times of crisis. This duality reflects the need to cherish joyful times with children while also recognizing the limited time available to prepare them for an uncertain future. Practicing presence during vital parenting moments, along with building a sense of urgency around contributing to children’s emotional wellness and awareness, is crucial. Ultimately, parents are encouraged to seize the beauty of these interactions while understanding the pressing need to address complex issues like climate change with their children.
Fostering Resilience and Emotional Intelligence
Building emotional resilience in children is essential in navigating uncertainties and anxieties inherent in today's world. Parents are encouraged to provide a framework for understanding and managing emotions rather than seek to eliminate discomfort from their children's lives. Tools such as emotional identification posters and quiet corners can facilitate discussions around feelings, while also teaching children coping mechanisms. This focus on emotional intelligence helps prepare children not just to face difficulties, but to thrive amidst challenges and cultivate their strengths.
The Role of Community in Parenting
The podcast emphasizes the importance of community support in effective parenting, asserting that no parent should navigate these challenges alone. Engaging with other adults in children's lives fosters relationships that contribute to their emotional growth and social well-being. This broader network plays a critical role in providing varied perspectives, experiences, and support that can help children confront the world with confidence. Additionally, parents are reminded of the significance of allowing children to step away from their immediate family units, encouraging independence and resilience through diverse interactions and experiences.
This week I asked fellow substacker Anya Kamenetz to help me answer the above question. Anya is a parent and climate activist, a former NPR journalist and she has written five books loosely related to the mental health of young people in the face of difficulty. She is also the producer of Joanna Macy’s incredible podcast with Jess Serrante, We Are The Great Turning.
This question - How to parent in the face of collapse and crisis? - comes up often on my Substack and there was a particularly moving thread that opened up last week that spoke to this concern that so many parents have. Here it is, if you would like to read it. The gist is that while we (the adults) might be able to accept what is happening to the world on one level, when we reflect on the kids in our lives an incredible emotional dissonance kicks in. Anya and I talk about how to talk about the crises in front of kids, how to help them with their emotions, why prioritising enjoying the world is key and “parenting as activism”.