“`html
Lloyd Bishop/NBC via Getty Images
- Seth Meyers mentioned that his children find it amusing when he “drops the hammer.”
- The father of three expressed that his experience with gentle parenting yielded “no results.”
- Gentle parenting is a method focused on communication rather than punishment.
Seth Meyers has shared his experiences with gentle parenting, ultimately concluding that it was ineffective for him.
During a recent interview on NBC’s Today, the host of “Late Night” revealed that his kids do not fear him.
Meyers, who is 50 years old, reflected on how he used to be intimidated by his own father, who employed a strict approach. However, when he tries to assert authority now, his children find it humorous. He recounted an instance where one of them remarked, “Watch out! Dad’s about to lose it; it’s hilarious!”
“They seem to understand it’s a different time,” said Meyers, adding that they act as if they possess ”diplomatic immunity.”
Meyers and his wife Alexi Ashe are parents to two sons—Ashe (8) and Axel (5)—and a daughter named Addie (2).
When discussing gentle parenting further, he admitted, “I’m just not seeing any positive outcomes from my attempts at gentle parenting.” Interestingly enough, he noted that while the kids enjoy this style of upbringing and would rate it highly themselves.
He recalled an occasion when Alexi informed their son about receiving a “strike.” To which he responded nonchalantly: “Yeah! I think that’s strike five?”
“They’re good kids,” concluded the comedian. “I might just not be cut out for this whole parenting thing.”
Strategies for Successful Gentle Parenting
Differing from traditional authoritarian methods where misbehavior is met with punishment, gentle parenting prioritizes empathy and understanding children’s emotions.
Chrissy Horton—a former preschool educator—previously articulated in Business Insider that this approach centers around addressing the underlying needs or issues behind children’s behavior instead of dismissing their viewpoints.
This style gained significant traction on TikTok last year as parents showcased ways to correct behavior through rational discussions rather than punitive measures. The hashtag #gentleparenting has amassed over 7.5 billion views on TikTok.
However, gentle parenting has faced criticism as well. In July, Christine Carrig—a preschool director—wrote in Business Insider about her observations regarding how strictly adhering to scripted approaches could diminish genuine parent-child engagement.
“I worry some parents may believe they can enhance their relationship by suppressing their authentic selves in favor of an ‘ideal’ parent persona dictated by experts whose styles may vastly differ from theirs,” she stated.
This sentiment resonates with Hannah Nwoko—a millennial mother—who shared her struggles: “I felt like I was constantly walking on eggshells; striving for perfection was exhausting,” she explained while noting how she felt gentler methods sometimes encouraged undesirable behaviors in her child.
A speech-language therapist and mother named Lauren Salles Gumpert also abandoned gentle parenting due to emotional fatigue: “I want my daughters to see me as a complete person; I don’t want resentment towards them because I’ve allowed myself to become their emotional outlet,” she wrote candidly.
Making Gentle Parenting Effective
- Create Clear Boundaries:
- Set Expectations Early:
- Cultivate Strong Relationships:
Mary Benedetti—a social worker based in Toronto—asserted that establishing clear guidelines regarding acceptable behavior is crucial for effective implementation of gentle parenting techniques.
Amber Adrian—a parent and former teacher—emphasized setting behavioral expectations right from the start while acknowledging not all misbehavior necessitates punishment but should still be addressed appropriately.
Ultimately Adrian highlighted forming robust relationships with your child as paramount: “Strong connections can endure conflicts arising when children fail to meet expectations because there exists foundational trust and unconditional love,” she advised.
Source
“`
