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Shouldstorm

How Parents Can Find Their Power in a World That Won't Stop Pushing

On Psychology Today, I write about what it's like to be a parent in the Shouldstorm of the culture of criticism and perfectionism that causes us so much anxiety.

Latest Columns in Shouldstorm on Psychology Today

Parents and the Culture of Criticism

Do you ever feel like everybody has an opinion on your parenting? The idea that one small thing will alter our child's destiny forever is driving us crazy.

A Clear 3-Step Method to Parent Skillfully AND Enjoy Doing It.

Have you ever been trapped in worry about what you should be doing for your kids? This clear 3-Step method can change all of that.

How the Internet Destroyed One Self-assured Woman's Confidence as a Mother

Helen was sure that if she was not reading the research, she was not doing her job as a mother. She wished there was a manual for every situation, because she wanted to do a great job for her kids. But what would happen if there really was a manual like that?

Research Shows Intriguing Positives.

My kids felt perfectly justified following me around and haranguing me, even though they knew it was against our rules. Why? Because they were bored, and boredom is the worst.

Can We Really Blame Parents for Their Anxiety?

Anxious parents take the blame. Aren’t we a sad bunch of lemmings driven to bizarre group behavior? But we didn’t create this culture of anxiety by ourselves.

It doesn’t matter which one we celebrate: Holiday Stress gets us all.

Close your eyes and imagine the holidays. What do you see? Do you see decorations and loved ones? Ugh. This joy stuff doesn’t happen by itself.

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