This topic is vastly discussed on all social media platforms today, so I came across a reel that talked about “Authoritative Parenting vs Conscious Parenting or gentle parenting”. The reel and the content were very nice but it got me thinking about my parenting style, and how our parents raised us. Here came the full barrage of incidents from my childhood - we have made “aloo gobhi” today, Mamma - I don't like it and I am not eating and my mother said, “Then stay hungry”. It might sound a bit harsh to us parents now but what it triggered was - my action of ending up eating a very healthy and tasty meal with my family. 

Another such incident happened when I scored low in Science and complained to my mother that” the teacher doesn't like me and hence the less marks.” My mother scolded me and explained that the fault was that I did not study well and the teacher’s liking had nothing to do with it, that taught me an important lesson for life. 

With the above background, some of us may always feel torn between how we raise our kids, “Should we do what our parents did or should we listen to the trending buzzwords & concepts on parenting” which is a very valid question. We face issues, shaped by technology, changing societal norms, evolving family structures, and a changing economic landscape which has definitely motivating parents to bring innovation to the old norms learnt from society in comparison with how our parents in the 90s were worried about the influence of western culture, academic success, the influence of TV and Video games, health, over outdoor exposures, limited communication with kids and so on.

I want to add an example - you all remember that one saree we all loved from your Mother’s or Grandmother’s closet that we always wanted to wear and would have fought with them on various occasions to wear just once... And when finally the wait is over what would we do - let's be honest we will get either a dress or suit made out of the saree which doesn't mean that we do not love the saree, it's just that we decorated it the way we would want to embrace it. 

The core is the thread and love that will always remain, I believe the same goes with parenting. The core is “Being a Parent” now we can add new textures to it, we can refine the parts that are more suited to today’s environment, we can add one extra layer of protection so that the bonds are solidified. 

If we look at it both the generations faced respective issues and customized their parenting style as per the need of the child and the environment. Let us discover how can we rewrite the rules, with a significantly higher emphasis on involvement in the children's lives and forward-thinking approaches.

1. Decorate the tradition in your way:  Traditions have always played an important role in family life, and we need to redefine them in ways that align with our values, lifestyles, and modern challenges. We can give them a fresh, inclusive, and mindful touch like celebrating festivals. In our home, Mahashivratri is “Shivji’s Birthday, and Janmashtami is “Krishna’s Birthday” that’s the language our kids relate to and then once they listen we can always tell them the true meaning of the festivals.  We constructed a few family bonding times - like Movie Day with popcorn where we watch her Favorite movie so now Sunday is Movie time, Art & Craft Saturdays, and Meeting Grandparents during Vacations. 

2. Building Holistic Healthy Habits: Considering the over-exposure to junk food, exposure to television, mobile, social media, long school hours and the ever-growing benchmarks of studies, teaching kids to be healthy and have the right balance is extremely important for holistic health. So we can not say just eat daal, roti, and rice and stop eating junk, we just have to make them understand that you can have junk food maybe twice a week for two meals. You can watch TV but maybe after you do homework, class or a walk or playtime on the ground with friends. We as parents are starting to introduce all this to our 5-year-old daughter because it is not just about eating healthy today or growing up but it is going to become the lifestyle - I remember a quote from “Michelle Obama - Practice what you want to become daily” 

3. Identifying boundaries: Boundaries in Parenting is not about control - It is about “Guidance” and that is what our primary role is. As parents we want our kids to be always happy - it's a natural thing for us however is it right to make that a sole purpose of our parenting journey, are we risking raising kids who may struggle with disappointment and resilience? Boundaries can also talk about setting a customized routine for kids because in my limited experience of parenting - kids respond to routine. 

4. Emotions Matter, But Let us learn to balance: Feelings are important. But just because a child is upset doesn’t mean they always get their way. Learning to tolerate frustration, navigate disappointment, and adapt to challenges builds emotional strength. Parents can acknowledge feelings (“I see you’re frustrated”) while still holding firm on rules (“But we can’t have ice cream before dinner”).

5. Let us trust the gut: Before we take inspiration from influencers, experts, doctors and teachers - with all due respect seek out help if the need is there however first urge to trust what's right for the child. If they need discipline, love, time or just family time, prioritize that and after doing all the measures that you believe as a parent then turn to the specialists.

Like I said at the beginning, “In the end, it is Parenting whether it was our parents or grandparents or us - The right balance is the core, the parenting is the core.” Parenting has transformed across generations, and millennial parents are redefining what it means to raise children in a fast-changing world. 

Evolved parenting is not about making life easier for kids—it’s about preparing them for reality. It’s about teaching resilience, not just preventing struggles. It’s about setting boundaries while fostering emotional security. It’s about allowing failure as a stepping stone to success.

The ultimate goal of parenting isn’t just happiness—it’s raising children who are confident, kind, adaptable, and capable of facing life’s challenges with strength and grace.

Parenting will always continue to evolve, but one thing remains timeless, the deep love and commitment to guiding our children into becoming the best versions of themselves.

Contributed By - Priyanka Thapliyal, Writer and podcaster blending creativity and storytelling