Why "Gentle Parenting" is out, "Sturdy Leadership" is in, and how to stop your parents from getting scammed by AI.

This week, the parenting pendulum is swinging back.

We look at the mom who went viral for raising her kids like it’s 1985—no Xbox, no shoes, and definitely no guilt about serving carrots for dinner. Plus, why Dr. Becky Kennedy says it’s time to stop being "gentle" and start being a "sturdy pilot" when our kids hit turbulence.

It’s a heavy week for news, too. We discuss the reality for families with trans kids right now, and the heartbreaking vigil in Sault Ste. Marie for fathers fighting to see their children.

Finally, we talk about the other people we take care of: our parents. The world shrinks as you get older, and loneliness is a killer. We look at:

• AI Companions: Why robot friends like ElliQ aren't as dystopian as they sound.

• Mental Health: How Total Life is getting seniors into therapy without the stigma.

• The Grandparent Scam: AI voice cloning is terrifyingly good. We explain how it works and the one "safe word" trick that stops it cold.

• Tech Support: Why you should stop fixing their printer and send them to a "Today at Apple" session instead.

Links & Resources:

• Total Life - Therapy for Seniors

• Today at Apple Sessions

• Newsweek: The Mom Parenting Like It's 1985

• SooToday: Equal Parenting Vigil

Find more at SocialDad.ca

Today we’re saying the quiet parent thoughts out loud. 🙃

From “Dads aren’t babysitters” to “your kid doesn’t need a perfect childhood, they need a soft place to fall apart,” we’re running through a whole slate of spicy-but-kind hot takes about modern parenting.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Why “back in my day…” advice doesn’t always work for kids growing up with iPads and group chats

• The difference between gentle parenting and zero boundaries

• Toddler meltdowns, public judgment, and what our reactions are teaching our kids

• Screens as survival tools vs screens as babysitters

• Red flags in kids’ products and “smart” toys

• The pressure to be a “content creator” parent while staying sane and keeping your kids’ privacy intact

If you’ve ever reheated the same coffee three times and questioned everything you’re doing as a parent, you’re in the right place.

When the feed gets weaponized, who cleans up the mess? This episode digs into coordinated harassment, doxxing, and AI deepfakes that silence women — with facts, hard feelings, and practical ways you can help.

Key takeaways:

1. Deepfakes and AI “nudify” tech are lowering barriers to image-based abuse; the volume of complaints is large and takedowns are slow.
2. Even prominent women get targeted — the Phica scandal in Italy shows how doctored sexual images are used to humiliate and politically attack women.
3. Platforms have policies but enforcement at scale often fails; regulation (e.g., the UK Online Safety Act) and targeted laws are part of the solution.
4. Children and teens are already being harmed by AI-enabled bullying — schools and parents need updated policies and education.
5. You can help: document abuse, use reporting channels, support victim-service orgs, pressure platforms and lawmakers, and don’t amplify harmful content.