Bare Minimum Parenting
The Ultimate Guide to Not Quite Ruining Your Child
Your kids will turn out fine whether or not you run yourself into the ground for them — so stop trying to raise a superkid and aim for a functional adult instead. Do less, worry less, and let them learn to support themselves.
James Breakwell, a comedy writer and father of four, wrote this book in 2019 as a satirical rebuttal to helicopter parenting. His case, made mostly through jokes: modern parents over-invest in optimizing childhood, and a kid who grows into a self-sufficient, reasonably decent adult is a bigger win than one raised to be exceptional at everything.
A few lines worth keeping:
People don’t criticize complete strangers out of the goodness of their hearts.
It’s never too early to care less.
Cut your corners before they cut you.
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