Happy Monday,

Hope everyone had a great weekend. As I mentioned last week, we almost have a one year-old on our hands. We’ve started taking bets on whether she’ll take her first steps on her own by the time the clock strikes midnight on the night of her birthday. My bet is that she’ll miss the early December deadline, but that she’ll walk before 2024.

If you have a toddler, when did your little one start walking? Let me know!

Love Parenthood? Be sure to share it with your family, friends, and social network and encourage them to join our community!

One Big Idea

Parenting - Instinctive or Learned?

In building Parenthood, one thing I’ve come to realize is that parenting is often perceived as an instinctive ability. However, it is actually a complex art form shaped significantly by context, including personal experiences and external influences. The idea that parenthood is innately programmed in us is a common misconception. In reality, our approach to parenting is heavily influenced by factors such as our personality, life experiences, cultural background, and the observations we make of other parents. These influences suggest that parenting is less about instinct and more about learning and adapting. For instance, how I respond to my daughter’s moments of witching is surely different than how my neighbor does and reflects my unique parenting philosophy, which is molded by my personal story and mindset.

Additionally, while certain aspects of parenting, like responding to a baby's cry, might be instinctual, the majority of parenting skills are acquired through learning, observation, and practice. This is evident in the diverse parenting styles observed across cultures and individuals, each reflecting a different set of values and beliefs. The idea that effective parenting is instinctive can be challenged by the fact that no two parents react identically to similar situations. This diversity in parenting approaches underscores the significance of learning and adapting as crucial components of successful parenting.

It’s for this reason that I built Parenthood - a platform that understands parenting is not one-size-fits-all. Our beta is coming soon, and we’d love for you to try it. Sign up for the waitlist below!

Trending Stories & Insights

• What grace period? This mom dropped her daughter off seven minutes late for school. You’d think there would be some wiggle room, but the school made her explain why she was late. Listen to her hilarious and relatable response

• I’ll be giving this a shot: Piojito, which translates to ‘little lice,’ is also a soothing technique that is used around the world to calm children. Turns out this method can release “endorphins that relax you and cause you to feel at peace with the world”

• McDaddy? Patrick Dempsey, who was just crowned the sexiest man alive, opens up about parenting and why it’s harder to raise teens than toddlers

Tip of the Day

• These three evidence-based parenting tips show how early parent-child interactions can lead to better mental health outcomes which could in turn create a kinder society

Here’s a dad joke

Why did the coach go to the bank?

Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for the answer!

Time(out) for Memes