Confronting Childism: A Conversation with Gentle Parenting Author Sarah Ockwell-Smith

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Guest Info: https://sarahockwell-smith.com/

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Summary

Sarah Ockwell-Smith discusses the concept of childism and how children are discriminated against based on their age. She explains that childism is prevalent in society and affects various aspects of children's lives. Sarah also addresses the challenges of breaking the cycle of childism and the reactions she has received for discussing this issue. She emphasizes the importance of parental self-regulation and the power of apologizing to children. Sarah highlights the difficulties parents face in balancing work and parenting, as well as the need for self-compassion. She also explores the potential for change in the corporate world and the importance of raising children who challenge societal norms. The conversation explores the topic of childism and the rights of children in terms of privacy and consent. It discusses the oversharing of children's photos and videos on social media and the need for parents to be aware of their children's rights to erasure and the right to be forgotten. The conversation also delves into the comparison between childcare and assisted living, highlighting the importance of respecting children's emotions and not mocking their experiences. It addresses the issue of parenting influencers exploiting their children for financial gain and the potential need for laws to regulate their actions. The conversation emphasizes the importance of empathy, setting boundaries, and creating supportive communities to address childism in society.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:59 Understanding Childism

02:32 Reactions to Discussing Childism

03:02 Internalizing Childism

04:09 Challenges of Breaking the Cycle

05:43 Parenting Books and Tribalism

06:33 Struggling with Parenting

10:09 Supporting Teachers

11:05 Government's Attendance Campaign

12:26 Parental Self-Regulation

15:03 The Power of Apologizing

19:33 Parenting Teenagers

20:19 Sibling Relationships

22:06 Struggling with Self-Regulation

23:14 Challenges of Parenting in Difficult Times

25:46 The Pressure to Work and Parent

27:31 Being Kind to Ourselves

28:31 Changing the Corporate Image

30:07 Emotional Regulation and Gender

32:20 Troublemakers and Change

33:01 Privacy and Rights of Children

34:00 Sharing Children's Moments on Social Media

35:09 Comparing Childcare to Assisted Living

36:07 Balancing Sharing and Mockery in Parenting Spaces

37:22 Respecting Children's Consent and Right to Erasure

38:43 Parenting Influencers and Exploitation of Children

39:24 The Need for Laws to Protect Children's Privacy

39:57 Perceiving Children as Extensions of Ourselves

40:38 Boundaries in Childcare Settings

42:06 Setting Boundaries and Avoiding Burnout

44:47 Showing Empathy and Support to Address Childism

48:32 Creating and Joining Communities to Address Childism