Parenting in the Age of Everything.

Are We Raising Competent Adults or Overindulged Teens?

Dear Parents,

There’s no doubt about it — parenting teens today is a different sport than it was a generation ago.

We’ve gone from:

• Local worlds to global playgrounds

• Scheduled TV programming to on-demand, any-time-anywhere content

• Neighborhood influence to global influence at the swipe of a screen

Today’s teenager is marketed to constantly, entertained endlessly, and exposed to everything — from fashion to fear — before their emotional muscles are fully formed.

And with all that, a shift is happening in parenting too.

We’re seeing less “Because I said so” and more “Let’s negotiate.”
Less structure, more softness.
More access, but sometimes less guidance.

Which raises the question:

🧭 Are we supporting our teens… or enabling them?

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Teens today are:

• Navigating adult-level pressure with child-level maturity

• Surrounded by media that makes everything about them

• Grappling with identity, performance, popularity, and pressure — all at once

But when we respond with indulgence rather than instruction, with avoidance rather than boundaries, we risk raising children who are not ready for real life.

Because here’s the truth:
✅ The world does not hire based on vibes.
✅ It does not reward entitlement, no matter how talented you are.
✅ And it will not bend to fragile egos.

You may have the best CV — but if you’re cocky, arrogant, or lack people skills, you won’t get the job.
Character still matters.
More than ever.

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So as parents, mentors, educators — we must ask:

• Are we building emotional resilience and humility in our teens?

• Are we allowing discomfort so they can grow through it?

• Are we showing tough love that disciplines with dignity?

• Can they truly talk to us — not just report, but relate?

Because when the dust of adolescence settles, the adults they become will reflect the training they received — or didn’t.

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👣 We don't just raise children — we raise future co-workers, neighbors, spouses, leaders, citizens.
Let’s raise grounded humans, not just gifted ones.

Thoughts?

How has parenting (or being parented) changed in your world?

Let’s discuss. 👇🏽

Love and Light

Dr. Abimbola Ogundere

Founder, LAIT Africa

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#ParentingTeens #CharacterDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #ToughLove #ModernParenting #RaisingAdults #LeadershipStartsAtHome