ParentData with Emily Oster High-Achieving Kids: The culture of never enough
31 snips
Sep 21, 2023 Journalist Jennifer Breheny Wallace discusses the pressure faced by high-achieving kids and how it affects their mental health. The podcast also explores the reasons behind the 'never enough' culture, such as extreme inequality and globalization. The concept of mattering is emphasized, highlighting the importance of feeling valued and adding value to others. Involving kids in family functioning and giving them responsibilities is encouraged, while minimizing criticism and prioritizing affection in parenting.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Student Who Runs With Eyes Closed
- Molly, a high school junior, described running laps in practice with her eyes closed from chronic sleep loss.
- Jennifer Wallace uses this story to show students often normalize extreme sacrifice in hypercompetitive environments.
Economic Anxiety Fuels Parenting Pressure
- Macroeconomic forces and rising inequality created parental anxiety that fuels competitive parenting.
- Parents absorb and transmit societal scarcity signals, making the pressure to overachieve feel necessary.
Make Mattering Your Parenting North Star
- Lead your parenting around the concept of mattering: kids must feel valued for who they are and be asked to add value.
- Combine explicit affection with meaningful responsibilities so children feel both seen and impactful.