"I don't cut crusts off toast at breakfast time. If my kids don't want to eat the crust, they eat around it. I'm not lazy, I'm teaching life skills . It's a valuable lesson that you have to eat around the bits you don't like. My often passive parenting isn't me checking out; I'm intentionally stepping back so my kids have space to grow and work it out for themselves."
"My kids are both in school now , and sometimes we wait up to 10 minutes for my youngest to tie her laces. I'll wait because I'm finished doing it for her. It's practice in patience, for both of us, and she's a smart kid, getting faster every time. I'm a fan of a bit of tough love . If there are peas in the pasta and my kids decide (that day) they don't like them, they can pick them out."
"I first noticed I was a passive parent when I went for a coffee with a friend and watched her hold her 1-year-old daughter's bottle to her little lips. My friend had one hand on the bottle, the other balancing her latte, while her sandwich sat untouched. I realized then that from the age of about 4 months, my son had held his own bottle, likely because I put it to his mouth and then turned away and used both my hands to eat my lunch."
The parent practices intentional, passive parenting by withholding quick fixes so children learn practical skills. Children handle tasks like eating around crusts, holding bottles, tying laces, and buckling seats to build competence. Waiting through small struggles teaches patience for both child and caregiver while showing visible improvement in speed and ability. Allowing children to remove disliked food items fosters perseverance and realistic habits. Early choices to stop doing tasks for infants led to rapid acquisition of self-care skills. The approach balances active oversight with space for growth while the parent manages full-time work responsibilities.
Read at Business Insider
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