underparenting

Apparently this is something which the "experts" say works. Basically you make your children less dependent on you and they then learn to do more for themselves and become more confident. I don't think this is a new facet of parenting. The McCanns were practising it back in 2007.

It's certainly a good idea when they're heading towards their teens though.

I cringe now at the thought of how dependent upon and influenced by my mother I was right up until she died when I was 21.