Kids are sounding the alarm on today’s parenting crisis—and they’re right. A growing number of parents have swapped discipline for friendship, leaving children rudderless in a world that demands strength. The results? A generation unprepared for reality, drowning in entitlement, and begging for boundaries they’ll never get.
Permissive parenting creates kids who can’t handle “no.” Without rules or consequences, children grow up believing every whim should be instantly gratified. Schools now face classrooms full of students who throw tantrums over deadlines and melt down over minor criticism. These kids weren’t born unruly—they were failed by adults who prioritized being liked over being leaders.
Social skills have collapsed under this “best friend” parenting model. Kids raised without boundaries struggle to share, take turns, or handle disagreements. They’ve been taught the world revolves around their feelings, leaving them unprepared for teamwork or compromise. Real life doesn’t care about your emotions—it rewards grit and adaptability, traits absent in coddled children.
Academic performance plummets when parents set zero expectations. Why study for a test or complete homework when Mom and Dad never demand effort? Teachers report students who’ve never faced consequences for missed assignments now lack basic discipline to sit through a lesson. Snowplow parents clearing every obstacle create adults who crumble at the first challenge.
Delinquency and substance abuse spike among these directionless youth. Without moral guidance, kids fill the void with reckless behavior. Parents who refuse to say “don’t” act shocked when their teen experiments with drugs or vandalism. Freedom without wisdom isn’t liberty—it’s neglect disguised as kindness.
Emotional fragility runs rampant in homes without structure. Children never taught to manage disappointment become adults shattered by everyday setbacks. Employers see young workers quit over mild feedback, while therapists’ offices overflow with millennials paralyzed by anxiety. Coddling doesn’t build resilience—it breeds dependency.
Bad habits fester when parents abandon responsibility. Unlimited screen time, sugary diets, and chaotic sleep schedules become the norm. Kids raised without health boundaries often struggle with obesity and insomnia by middle school. Permissive parenting doesn’t just damage minds—it sabotages bodies.
America needs a return to tough love and traditional values. Parents must reclaim their role as guides, not pals, teaching respect, work ethic, and accountability. The next generation’s future depends on adults with the courage to say “no”—before it’s too late to fix what’s broken.
