The Podcast: Raising Parents – Episode 3

Episode Title: Raising Parents – Episode 3 (Jane Scheufler)
Release Date: August 1, 2024
Duration: 31 minutes

This podcast, called “Raising Parents”, explores the idea that as kids learn, parents learn – in essence, that kids raise their parents too.

My third guest is Jane Scheufler, a fellow partner-in-crime along this parenting journey. Attached below are some of the topics we covered during our conversation.

Parenting Style and Memories of Raising Children

• Jane describes her parenting style as more of a teacher than a disciplinarian, and as flexible, playful, logical, and authoritative
• Her favorite parenting memories include her son Sam compassionately interacting with autistic twins, making them more verbal, and her son Ben enthusiastically sharing his passion for nature with others, both at a very young age
• Her least favorite memory was watching her sons experience anxiety and depression, especially during her divorce

Family Traditions and Self-Reflection

• Jane tried to pass down to her children the traditions that she experienced growing up – celebrating events, traveling, reading, and fostering a sense of curiosity and wonder
• She reflects that she was more attentive to her children’s day-to-day thoughts and feelings than her parents’ generation
• Jane wishes she had better understood Ben’s sibling jealousy towards Sam, and Sam’s feelings of being alone/different, at an earlier age

Parenting of Adult Children

• Now that her sons are young adults, Jane sees her role as more of a supportive background presence, giving advice when asked but letting them make their own decisions
• Their relationship has evolved into one of mutual respect, and she now acts as more of a “historian” for them
• Jane hopes she has prepared them to carry on resiliently if/when she is no longer around

Advice for Other Parents

• Pay attention to how each child learns and experiences the world
• Partner with their teachers
• Strike a balance between allowing failure/building resilience and being supportive
• Expose kids to diverse experiences like travel, nature, sports, and religion
• Emphasize kindness and compassion

A full transcript of the podcast episode can be found here:

Credits:
Featured image – Kay Parent
Intro/outro music – PodBean
Transcript – Otter.ai

sincerelykayparent