Many parents say it with pride: “I birthed my children. I know what’s best for them.”
And they’re right; love, instinct, and lived experience are powerful. But here’s the truth no one likes to admit: love alone doesn’t guarantee the skills to raise a healthy, resilient child in today’s world.
Parenting With Susan says:
“Parenting isn’t just loving your child; it’s learning them.”
From hidden emotional struggles to a rapidly changing culture, our children face challenges we didn’t grow up with. If we want them to thrive, we have to equip ourselves with tools we were never taught.
Common Parenting Gaps That Love Alone Can’t Fill:
1. Communication Breakdowns
You ask, they shut down. You lecture, they rebel. Many parents never learn how to create two-way conversations that feel safe for a child.
2. Emotional Misdirection
We were raised to “stop crying” and “be strong,” but children need help naming and navigating feelings; not just suppressing them.
3. Boundary Confusion
Love makes us want to give, but without clear boundaries, children can mistake indulgence for permission and discipline for rejection.
4. Parent Fatigue
Love keeps you going; but skill keeps you from burning out. Many parents are running on empty because they’ve never been shown how to recharge while still being present.
Why the Gap Exists
- We Parent the Way We Were Parented: Until we actively learn new methods, we repeat old patterns; even ones that didn’t serve us well.
- Today’s World is Different: Our kids face mental health challenges, digital temptations, and societal pressures we never imagined.
- Skills Aren’t Instinctive: Just as you wouldn’t perform surgery without training, you can’t expect perfect parenting without learning the craft.
“You cannot instinct your way through modern parenting. You have to equip yourself.” — Susan Tayo, Let’s Talk
What Can Parents Do?
Pause and Assess: Step back from autopilot parenting. Ask: “Is what I’m doing building connection, or just control?”
Learn New Tools: Discipline, communication, and emotional guidance have practical, learnable methods.
Practice, Not Perfection: The best parenting shifts happen one new habit at a time.
Recommended Reads:
- Let’s Talk by Susan Tayo — Learn how to rebuild open conversations.
- It’s Gone All Wrong: Is It Too Late? Volumes I – III by Susan Tayo — Understand the roots of difficult behaviors and how to guide your child through them.
- My Parenting Manual by Susan Tayo — Your guide to all things parenting.
Final Word
Being a parent today isn’t about proving you love your child. It’s about proving you’re willing to grow with them. Love is the root; but learning is the growth.
All books are now available in paperback, hardback, and ebook.
Order via Amazon, Selar, or request Lagos doorstep delivery.
