In a recent TED talk by one of our favorite authors,  Julie Lythcott-Haims urges parents to consider letting go of the notion that we need to be our kids “Concierge” and “Personal Handlers”. That our efforts to micromanage every aspect of their lives is putting them under enormous pressure to lead a life of perfection that is both unreasonable and unrealistic.

Lythcott-Haims suggests that the parenting checklist of success has broadened from meeting basic needs such as keeping our children safe, loved, fed and watered, to ensuring they are in the right school, the right class, get the right grades, get the right scores, get the right accolades, and awards, are in the right team, are leaders, are involved in community service, basically are over-scheduled and burnt out.

This TED talk speaks for itself (pardon the pun) so without further ado take a listen!