Episode 4 – It’s 10 PM. Do you know where your children are?

Episode 4 – It’s 10 PM. Do you know where your children are? January 21, 2026 Featuring: Becky Ford Summary Remember when parents didn’t coordinate playdates like military operations? Parenting a five-year-old is hard. Parenting a five-year-old as a Gen Xer surrounded by millennial parents is… an experience. In this episode, I sit down with another Gen Xer who’s raising a five-year-old among millennial parents. We unpack how freedom became a liability, technology became a third parent, and why letting kids roam—even a little—now feels like a radical act. Takeaways Parenting has evolved significantly from the Gen X era to now Technology and social media have changed how parents monitor their children. Participation trophies are a controversial topic among parents. There’s a balance between giving children independence and ensuring their safety. Gen X parents often reflect on their own upbringing when raising their children. Modern parenting involves more communication and involvement. The concept of ‘helicopter parenting’ is more prevalent today. Parents today have more resources but also face more societal pressure. The role of schools in parenting has changed over the years. There’s a debate on the impact of modern parenting trends on children’s resilience. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Parenting Evolution Overview of how parenting has changed from the Gen X era to today. 00:05:00 Technology and Social Media’s Impact Discussion on how technology and social media have transformed parenting practices. 00:10:00 Participation Trophies Debate Exploration of the controversial topic of participation trophies and their impact on children. 00:15:00 Balancing Independence and Safety Insights into how parents balance giving children independence while ensuring their safety. 00:20:00 Gen X vs. Millennial Parenting Comparative analysis of parenting styles between Gen X and millennial parents. 00:25:00 The Rise of Helicopter Parenting Examination of the increase in helicopter parenting and its effects. 00:30:00 The Role of Schools in Today’s Parenting Discussion on how the role of schools in parenting has evolved over the years. 00:35:00 Resilience and Modern Parenting Debate on the impact of modern parenting trends on children’s resilience. Keywords parenting, Gen X, millennials, participation trophies, technology, social media, independence, safety, supervision, freedom