Dear Reader Not long ago, our sense of identity and belonging came from the places that held us: our families, communities, faith traditions, and even our connection to country. These cultural pillars gave us clarity about who we are, what we value, and how to live a meaningful life. Today, many of us feel that these roots have weakened. Family life has become fragmented. We rush from one activity to the next, missing the slow, grounding rituals like shared meals or time with extended family. Many people are no longer part of a religious or spiritual community—or if they are, they don’t feel deeply connected to it. And with growing secularism and relativism, we’ve embraced the idea that all truths are valid, that identity is entirely self-created, and that everything is open to interpretation. While this freedom has brought important progress, taken too far, it can leave us—and especially our children—adrift. Children need more than infinite choice. They need context. They need to know who they are, what they represent, what’s right and wrong, and what it means to live a good and meaningful life. When those cultural and moral frameworks disappear, kids are left to build their identities in a vacuum. Confusion, anxiety, and a sense of purposelessness often follow. And we, as parents, feel the pressure too. What should we teach our kids? Which values should we pass on? How do we honor their individuality without leaving them with no direction at all? How can we be both loving and firm, empathetic yet anchored? In today’s episode of The Parenting Wisdom Podcast, I sit down with the wise and thoughtful Avital Schreiber-Levy from Hi Fam to unpack exactly these questions. We talk about: - Why so many modern parents feel they’ve lost their authority Avital also shares a step-by-step guide to becoming a confident, values-based leader in your home—without losing the warmth, presence, and compassion your child needs.
With care, |
Our educational system often falls short, focusing on subjects that lack relevance for our children's futures. This approach can breed a disdain for learning and lead them away from their passions, disconnecting them from their true paths. The Alternative Parenting podcast aims to address this gap by exploring the essential skills, tools, and traits necessary for our kids to thrive and find fulfillment in life. Join my weekly newsletter where I will inform you on new episodes of the podcast where we delve into how to empower our children to pursue their interests, dreams, and create lives rich with purpose and meaning.
Dear Reader So many voices today are sounding the alarm: our children are suffering from a mental health crisis. Anxiety and depression rates are soaring. Suicide attempts—and tragically, suicides themselves—are at an all-time high. Kids are lonelier than ever, struggling with motivation, and increasingly failing to launch into adulthood—staying in their parents’ homes, avoiding responsibility, and searching for identity in places that often leave them more lost. But what if we’re naming the...
Hi there Reader This week, I’m diving into a question that touches nearly every parent, teacher, and caregiver today—why do so many kids seem lost, anxious, or unmoored, even when their basic needs are met? To understand what’s happening, we need to zoom out. Our society has undergone a profound transformation. We’ve moved from a culture rooted in hierarchy, authority, and tradition to one that prioritizes openness, equality, and emotional authenticity. While these values have brought...
Hi Reader As parents, it’s so easy to fall into constant motion. We’re always doing: errands, appointments, drop-offs, lessons, activities. We run from one moment to the next, barely stopping to catch our breath, let alone reflect on the beauty of life as it is right now. But ancient wisdom reminds us to pause. Across cultures and traditions, there are rituals designed to pull us back into presence—especially through gratitude. In Judaism, for example, gratitude is woven into almost every...