Today’s topic is something every parent can learn from – how to raise our kids to value themselves for who they are, not what they accomplish. I’m thrilled to welcome Jennifer Wallace, an award-winning journalist and social commentator who covers parenting and lifestyle trends.
Jennifer is a contributor to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. She is the author of Never Enough: When Achievement Pressure Becomes Toxic — And What We Can Do About It. This is the definitive book on toxic achievement culture and the impact it has on parents and kids.
Jennifer tells us all about the groundbreaking findings she uncovered in her book, explaining the societal and economic factors that contributed to the rise of achievement culture. We talk about the prevalence of anxiety and depression in children who go to high-achieving schools. And most importantly, we explore how to combat this phenomenon and support our kids.
Jennifer shares fantastic advice on how to teach your kids about their unconditional worth, help them process envy and comparison, and foster a healthy sense of self. We chat a lot about mattering, and why it, well, matters so much, highlighting the importance of healthy interdependence.
School might be in session for them, but it is for you (and me!) too. Jennifer recommends getting a PhD in our kids; I will definitely be implementing her advice in my home. The LeVeque family meetings start now! I’m so excited to share Jennifer’s research and perspective, so you can learn from her too.
