On The Drew Mariani Show, Drew sat down with parenting expert Dr. Meg Meeker to talk about a trend that sounds lovely on paper; it's called gentle parenting, and it can quietly set kids up for trouble if it’s taken too far.

You know the idea: calm voices, no spanking, lots of explaining feelings. 👍 In theory, great! But Dr. Meeker explains that kids aren’t born with a fully-formed sense of self-control. They need firm, loving boundaries to learn discipline and feel safe. Without them, the “gentle” approach can morph into passive parenting, where kids end up calling the shots... and parents are just along for the ride.

Drew shared a jaw-dropping stat from the Wall Street Journal: nearly 1 in 3 Gen Z workers had a parent write their résumé, 3 out of 4 brought a parent to their job interview (😮), and almost half had Mom or Dad talk to their boss. Dr. Meeker sees a connection: when kids never have to face hard consequences growing up, they struggle to launch in adulthood.

She’s quick to say gentle parenting isn’t all bad; listening to kids and validating their feelings is great. However, without clear limits... things go sideways fast. The parenting style that's a healthy balance is called Authoritative: involving rules, consequences, and love. For example, when her teenage daughter once told her to “shut up,” she grounded her for a month; she stuck with it, even though it made her life harder too. That follow-through taught a lesson that stuck for life.

Kids may roll their eyes, slam doors, and call you “mean,” but deep down, firm boundaries give them the safety and direction they crave. Don't be afraid to be a true parent; your kids will thank you later. 

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

On The Drew Mariani Show, Drew sat down with parenting expert Dr. Meg Meeker to talk about a trend that sounds lovely on paper; it's called gentle parenting, and it can quietly set kids up for trouble if it&rsquo;s taken too far.
You know the idea: calm voices, no spanking, lots of explaining feelings. 👍 In theory, great! But Dr. Meeker explains that kids aren&rsquo;t born with a fully-formed sense of self-control. They&nbsp;need firm, loving boundaries to learn discipline and feel safe. Without them, the &ldquo;gentle&rdquo; approach can morph into passive parenting, where kids end up calling the shots... and parents are just along for the ride.
Drew shared a jaw-dropping stat from the Wall Street Journal: nearly 1 in 3 Gen Z workers had a parent write their r&eacute;sum&eacute;, 3 out of 4 brought a parent to their job interview (😮), and almost half had Mom or Dad talk to their boss. Dr. Meeker sees a connection: when kids never have to face hard consequences growing up, they struggle to launch in adulthood.
She&rsquo;s quick to say gentle parenting isn&rsquo;t all bad; listening to kids and validating their feelings is great. However, without clear limits... things go sideways fast. The parenting style that's a healthy balance is called Authoritative: involving rules, consequences, and love. For example, when her teenage daughter once told her to &ldquo;shut up,&rdquo; she grounded her for a month; she stuck with it, even though it made&nbsp;her life harder too. That follow-through taught a lesson that stuck for life.
Kids may roll their eyes, slam doors, and call you &ldquo;mean,&rdquo; but deep down, firm boundaries give them the safety and direction they crave. Don't be afraid to be a true parent; your kids will thank you later.&nbsp;
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The&nbsp;best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.