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Now, her company, Good Inside , is out with a new app that aims to offer parents easier access to that simple, actionable advice. Kennedy says the app was created because of the many parents who told her they wished they could just text her with their daily questions.
I spoke to Kennedy three weeks after the app launched about her decision to create it, her thoughts on the Surgeon General’s mental health warning for parents, the ongoing debate over kids and phones, the gentle parenting debate and back to school transition tips for busy parents.
Amy Shoenthal : Why do you think your parenting advice stands out from other experts in the space?
Dr. BeckyKennedy : We’ve been sold models of parenting that are either/or. They either lead with behavioral control and harsh reactions, which makes a parent feel powerful in the moment, but leaves them feeling disconnected from their kid. Or we’re told to empathize with our kids, which leads to parents struggling to actually set any boundaries.
Both are incomplete. At Good Inside, we’ve introduced a new model called sturdy parenting. I really would call it sturdy leadership, because parents tell me all the time that these benefits extend to the workplace, to their relationship with their in-laws and beyond.
When we become sturdier, we feel like the strongest and warmest version of ourselves. It’s when we embody our authority, set boundaries and connect to others with empathy. It’s amazing to watch our kids get the benefits of that approach.
