Hits & Misses July '26

First installment in a new series!

I scroll parenting content everyday; it’s a fascinating world and I have lots of thoughts about the content that goes viral. Some of it is amazing and insightful, some of it is problematic or just plain wrong.

It’s messy, but talking about it is important so that we’re actively thinking about what we see, instead of letting everything we see form our thinking.

Disclosure: These are just bite-sized reflections on singular posts or ideas, NOT inherent endorsements or criticisms of an entire account, organization, or person! If I do have strong feelings about the creator, positive or negative, I’ll say so in my reflection!

“Hits” are first because consuming the good matters most! “Misses” at the end so anyone who should opt out of that section can do so easily.

1. Sam Kelly coming in strong with the most practical way to get your older kids and teens to contribute at home, without you doing all the mental labor of managing a chore chart. Her method is one I use with my own kids and I’ll never need anything else. Also, she has a game-changing BOOK coming out this fall! Pre-order here!

2. Dr. Tuesday is becoming one of my absolute favorite follows. Her nuanced takes that hold space for ALL the messy feelings that come with parenting are needed now more than ever.

3. Elyse Myers talks through what it actually means to change generational patterns as she learns how to respond to her own children’s sensitivities in the way she needed when she was little. It’s not letting me embed the reel, but you can watch the video here.

   

4. Dr. Jazmine consistently puts out some of the most sensible and balanced parenting content online. I loved this post where she describes how she taught her child to feel a feeling AND do the hard thing all at once.

5. I’m not familiar with all of Brandon’s content, but this post was incredibly helpful and something I think most parents would benefit from watching.

   Don’t have time to watch? The phrases are “I need your help.” “Here’s how I’m feeling.” “What’s the reason why you can’t?” “This is really important because . . .” & “How much time do you need?” Brandon’s commentary on how and why to use these phrases is great though, so watch the video if you can!

If unhelpful or problematic parenting content negatively affects you (increases anxiety, shame, stress), this is your cue to hop out now!

1. EEEEK the generalizations in this post have me SQUIRMING for all my fellow parents raising ND, higher-needs kids.

I’ve got no problem with encouraging highly-connected parenting, and yes being more connected can support better behavior. But many kids who are struggling with behavior need more than just connection, they need actual targeted supports to address the root of their stress. Selling connection as the cure-all for kids who struggle with meltdowns, resistance, and aggression is also a huge slap in the face to parents who are doing EVERYTHING they can to stay connected but things like sensory sensitivities, executive functioning delays, communication differences, or various disability symptoms mean that behavior struggles are a part of their lives and IT’S NOT THEIR FAULT.

2. I see this creator’s posts all the time because they constantly go viral. Only recently did I realize part of that is because this person posts their content to (at least) 3 separate accounts!

I’m no expert in AI detection, but this reads like chat’s version of parenting advice, not a real human’s take. It’s full of fear-mongering, exaggeration, and straight up pseudoscience: “The parents who miss it spend the next fifteen years wondering when their child stopped talking to them”?? “By ten the filter is fully installed”???? You mean the imaginary filter that you made up?!?!?!?! And “save the teaching for later” is great advice, but telling parents they “lose access to their child by age 12” if they don’t is INSANITY.

3. A scary hook and a shaming, inaccurate caption. Two things that are deeply harmful in parenting content right now. See the full post

   

   The five behaviors listed here are typical, developmentally normal behaviors. Note that is not me saying we just let them happen without any sort of intervention. But sometimes kids do these things because they’re kids, not always because they’re mirroring a parent. And a kid who struggles with these behaviors is not inherently a disrespectful or rude child, as this silly hook seems to imply.

3. The first sentence on this video is a great example of how hook culture on social media can create parenting anxiety. See full post

   

   The caption is actually really great and balanced, but WHY do we have to say such extreme and misleading stuff to get attention?? Of course you can say “I love you” after a hard moment with your child. It should be part of the repair!! I get that the point is if you just sweep the conflict under the rug and think an “I love you” absolves everything, that’s not a great pattern. But an oversimplified hook that creates fear and anxiety in parents will always be a miss for me.

That’s July, I’ll be back in August for another round of hits and misses (probably with lots of helpful and unhelpful takes on back-to-school).