Oops! I Confused Gentle Parenting with Permissive Parenting—Here's What I Learned (And How to Apologize Like a Pro)
I have a confession: I messed up—publicly. I hit record, poured my heart out about "gentle parenting," posted the video everywhere, and only then discovered I was talking about… permissive parenting. (Cue facepalm, dramatic sigh, and the collective side-eye of the Internet.)
Apparently, the parenting police on TikTok were on patrol, and they wrote me more tickets than my three-year-old writes scribbles on our living-room wall. One brilliant commenter even snarked, "I usually wait until I know what I'm talking about before teaching my kid—but hey, that's just me." Well played, stranger. Well played.
So let's set the record straight—and maybe learn how to apologize without tripping over our own ego along the way.
1. Gentle vs. Permissive: Same Love, Different Boundaries
• Gentle parenting = empathizing with your kid's feelings while enforcing clear, consistent boundaries. Think: "I see you're upset. We still don't draw on Grandma's dog."
• Permissive parenting = empathizing with feelings and handing the kid the permanent marker. The child runs the show; bedtime becomes a democratic process involving snack negotiations and the occasional coup d'état.
Lesson learned: empathy + structure > empathy alone.
2. My Public Blunder & the Power of Internet Accountability
I left the erroneous clip online because (a) transparency, and (b) future-me needs periodic reminders not to wing terminology. Besides, nothing motivates a deeper dive into research like forty strangers shouting "WRONG WORD!"
3. Apology Archetypes (And When to Use Them)
A) The Conditional Apology: "I'm sorry you feel that way."
• Use sparingly—only when sticking to a core value (e.g., honesty) that unintentionally hurts someone's feelings.
B) The Genuine Apology: "I'm sorry I messed up."
• Admit fault. No ego gymnastics.
C) The Fix-It Apology: "I'm sorry, and here's how I'll do better."
• Own it, outline the plan, then follow through. (E.g., double-check terminology before hitting 'upload.')
Pro tip: Memorize the Fix-It first; it covers 90% of real-life scenarios and 100% of YouTube fiascos.
4. How This Applies Beyond Parenting
Fitness? Identify the biggest roadblock (time, cost, motivation) and tackle that first—just like I solved my "no time for the gym" problem by building a home gym. Apologies, workouts, conversation starters—play the high-percentage game. Master the most common version, then level up.
5. Final Takeaways (A.K.A. Notes to My Future Self)
• Google the term before teaching it to your kid—or 20,000 listeners.
• Leave your mistakes online; they're free masterclasses in humility.
• An apology isn't a humiliation ritual; it's a growth strategy.
• Empathy without boundaries = chaos with good intentions.
Thanks for tuning in, calling me out, and keeping me honest. Subscribe on YouTube (@DynamicDaddy), snag the free Better Dad Bulletin, and let's keep leveling up—terminology intact.
Much love,
Anthony
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