Are the kids alright?

Photo by Austin Pacheco

I have to confess: Growing up as the child of Eastern European parents, I couldn't help but notice the stark contrast in parenting styles between Eastern and Western cultures. Western parents often seemed to place their children on pedestals, celebrating even the smallest achievements on social media and indulging their every whim. They were unimpeachable. It was as if the children were the ones in charge, dictating the family dynamics.

‘The kids know best was the underlying sentiment. “I’m learning so much from my daughter,” they’d proudly proclaim.

Whatever they want they get. “You want to go to a school with an annual tuition of $50k? Sure, I’ll take out a second mortgage and get a second job.” And the kids didn’t seem to mind that one bit. (Does it seem like a bit of reinforced narcissism, or is that just me?)

At least that was the general impression I got.

The portrayal of Western parenting in movies, where where the dad would get shamed in some big speech for…