In this episode of Family Troubles, I sit down with Ruth Whippman, author of BoyMom and America the Anxious, to talk about the pressure modern parents face and how it’s shaping our kids. Ruth brings a cultural lens to parenting and shares how the drive to optimize our children can quietly strain the parent-child relationship.

We get into how this pressure shows up in real life, from constant monitoring to the belief that parents are responsible for their child’s happiness and outcomes. We also explore what it means to raise boys today, the mixed messages they’re receiving about masculinity, and how more care and connection, not control, can lead to healthier development.

Listen for more on:
• How the pressure to create a “perfect” child is increasing anxiety for both parents and kids
• Why trying to control outcomes can actually damage the parent-child relationship
• How constant monitoring and “optimization” can create distance instead of connection
• The conflicting messages boys receive about masculinity and identity today
• Why boys often need more emotional support but tend to receive less
• How early nurturing and connection shape empathy, resilience, and healthy development

Give this episode a listen, and if it resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who might need it, and leave a review to help more families find support.

Guest Links:
Instagram: @ruthwhippman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-whippman-94b89511/
Substack: https://ruthwhippman.substack.com/
Books: BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity
-America the Anxious: How Our Pursuit of Happiness Is Creating a Nation of Nervous Wrecks

Dr. Joshua Coleman’s Links:
Website: http://www.drjoshuacoleman.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.josh.coleman
Substack: https://substack.com/@joshuacolemanphd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJoshColeman/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjoshuacoleman/?trk=opento_sprofile_topcard
Twitter X: https://x.com/drjcoleman