There was a time when parenting seemed to come more naturally to us. There was a sort of system whereby parents learned how to raise their children from family members, imitating the behaviours and disciplinary methods with which they themselves had been raised. It was something like learning on the job with lots of support. In a stable society where life runs relatively smoothly and there is little change, this system is very effective. Nowadays things look very different: we live in an extremely fast-paced society, in which family structures and dynamics have changed dramatically. This means that the way we bring our children up, and how we prepare them for adulthood must also change.
There is one particular aspect of childhood that has radically changed in recent years, and that is all down to the arrival of modern technology. Today's children grow up with unlimited access to the internet and social media, making their living environment very different from the one their parents grew up in. This places additional responsibility on today's parents to educate their children on the healthy use of technology, and provide them with the guidance they need in a world that is now constantly evolving.
This is where the authors' theory comes in, according to which the ideal method for raising children to become healthy, responsible adults, is one that is based on love and logic. Authors Foster Cline and Jim Fay suggest that both love and logic are key ingredients in the education of young people, because it helps them develop a strong connection with their parents, and therefore a sense of security and belonging. At the same time, logic is necessary to provide children with a solid education to help them navigate a complex world in which change seems to be the only constant. The method uses the word logic to mean consequences: logic is used to help children understand the consequences of their actions which they themselves have to deal with.
Parenting with love and logic also means being aware of the importance of your children's self-esteem: through the power of choice and having to face the consequences of their actions, children become more mindful, and learn to deal with the more and less significant problems that they encounter. They must feel loved and accepted for who they are, and they should be encouraged to develop their decision-making and problem-solving skills, which will help them become confident and successful adults, ready to face the challenges of the modern world.
Parenting with love and logic is therefore more important today than it ever has been. It seems to be the only way for parents to provide their children with the necessary education to navigate an increasingly complex world.
