Hi everyone,

I'm a pediatrician (and a dad), and over the last 10-20 years in both clinic and hospital settings, I've noticed what feels like a major shift in parenting. I'm curious if you've seen it too.

It seems like parenting has moved away from a more authoritarian style ("You will do this because I told you so") to one that's intensely focused on a child's immediate emotional well-being.

The most common example I see is during necessary medical procedures. Instead of a parent stating, "It's time to get your vaccine (or blood draw) now," I often hear them ask, "Would you be willing to get your shot (or blood draw)?" This puts both the child and me in a difficult position when the procedure isn't actually optional.

I'd love to hear what MAs on the front lines of healthcare think. I'm especially curious about a few things:

1. Have you noticed this shift in your own lives, whether as a parent, a teacher, a healthcare worker, or just an observer?
2. What do you see as the pros and cons of this more collaborative parenting style?
3. How does this compare to how you were raised, and what do you think the long-term effects of this change might be?

Looking forward to hearing from everyone!