As her daughter grew older and developed new interests, author Doucleff shifted from a child-focused parenting style—which prioritizes children’s educational and enrichment activities—to a more balanced approach. Child-focused parenting, prevalent in recent years, schedules every moment around activities for children, often leading to exhausting weekends. Doucleff, inspired by conversations with psychologists like Suzanne Gaskins and Brené Brown, now advocates for family-focused parenting. This approach emphasizes integrating children into the family’s life rather than making them the sole focus, which can reduce parental burnout and child anxiety.
