The Unmistakable Creative Podcast

Jennifer Wallace: Raising Resilient Kids in a Culture That Says They're Never Enough

Oct 19, 2025
Jennifer Wallace, a journalist, researcher, and mother of three, explores the toxic impact of achievement culture on children in her book *Never Enough*. In this engaging conversation, she discusses the effects of social comparison and perfectionism on mental health. Wallace advocates for redefining success through the lens of 'mattering' and shares practical strategies for parents to foster resilience. She also touches on the role of adult mental health in supporting kids and the dangers of tying self-worth to achievements in our competitive society.
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INSIGHT

Economic Forces Drive Parental Anxiety

  • Macro economic forces like globalization and housing costs created parental anxiety and hyper-competition.
  • Parents become social conduits, passing status-safeguarding behaviors to children.
ANECDOTE

Don't Overstructure A Child's Passion

  • Jennifer enrolled her seventh grader in an architecture class and he pleaded, 'Please don't ruin it for me.'
  • The story reminded her to step back and let her children protect their own passions.
INSIGHT

Mattering Beats College Brand

  • College prestige matters far less than relationships, internships, and extracurriculars for long-term success.
  • These factors create 'mattering' which predicts midlife well-being and career outcomes.
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