The Difference Between Mere Childrearing and Parenting: Part Two

This particular Substack essay continues a subject I began in my podcast of the week of June 12, 2023, the subject being the differences between what I call “mere childrearing,” which is what American parents did before 1970, and “parenting,” which is what they have been doing ever since. I strongly encourage the reader to go back and listen to that podcast if you haven’t done so already.

The purpose of this series is to educate you and change your way of thinking about your children and your responsibilities to them. Mere childrearing is not difficult at all. Parenting, on the other hand, is emotionally taxing for both parent and child. Its theme is the phrase, “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” The difference is completely a matter of one’s point of view.