Hi there!   

You know those parents who freak out over every mess, every missed homework assignment, every tiny little thing?  

Yeah, that’s not me.

I’ve always been a go-with-the-flow kind of person, laughing things off, adapting as I go. And that didn’t change when I became a mom. If my kids make a mess, I don’t immediately jump to scolding. If plans change, I don’t let it ruin my day. Does that make me a bad mom? I don’t think so… 

But here’s the real question: Does being a laid-back parent actually work? Or am I just setting myself up for chaos? Let’s find out ⬇️

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I Identify as a Laid-back/Parent 👀

Being chill doesn’t mean being careless. It means:

✔️ Not sweating the small stuff: If my kids make a mess, I talk to them about it, help them clean it up—but I don’t lose it over a few crumbs.

✔️ Teaching responsibility: I let my kids take ownership of their actions instead of constantly managing them.

✔️ Choosing battles wisely: I focus my energy on the real issues—like their emotional well-being, school struggles, or social development. 

Basically, I trust my kids to figure things out—but I’m always there if they need guidance. 

I call myself Chief of Chill parenting, because I know it works. Here's the science behind it!  

If you want your kids to have a personality and thrive, give them autonomy!

Here’s what I know from experience: kids thrive when they have autonomy.

If parents constantly manage every little thing, kids don’t learn how to make decisions for themselves. That’s why I don’t micromanage things like:

❌ Checking every single test score the second it’s released.
❌ Organizing my kids’ schedules down to the last detail.
❌ Rushing to fix every mistake they make.

Instead, I give them ownership. They’re responsible for their grades, their choices, their messes. They know I’m here for support, but they’re learning how to manage their own lives. If you want to start giving your kids autonomy, here's where YOU should begin! 

And it’s not just school, it applies to everything:

My son is into filmmaking, so I let him use our expensive camera and figure it out himself. He watches YouTube tutorials, learns how to edit, and teaches himself.

By letting go, I’m helping them become confident, capable, and self-reliant.

My Take! 👏

A section where we talk about some of the most interesting pieces of media, and what I think about them, and for this week, we have:  

Helicopter Parenting is ruining YOUR kids mental health! 

MY POV: 

I’ve seen helicopter parenting up close, and while I get that it comes from a place of love, I also know that it can backfire, BIG time.

Take grades, for example. These days, we have so much technology that parents can log in and see their child’s test scores before the kid even knows them. And I just don’t see the point. I don’t check my kids’ grades obsessively, and I don’t need to know every little test result. Why? Because it’s their responsibility, not mine.

In my house, my kids know that if they’re struggling, they need to come to me and tell me. If I hear from a teacher that there’s an issue, of course, I’ll step in. But I’m not going to micromanage their learning. I want them to own their wins and their mistakes.

And it’s not just about school—it’s about life. When parents plan every activity, fix every problem, and never let their kids struggle, they rob them of the chance to figure things out on their own. 

Kids need space to fail, learn, and grow. That’s how they become confident, independent thinkers instead of adults who still need someone to tell them what to do.

🚦 Don’t Go Extreme

Being a laid-back parent doesn’t mean letting everything slide. There’s a big difference between authoritative parenting (which is structured and supportive) and permissive or free-range parenting (where anything goes). 

What’s important is setting clear boundaries. Let’s understand with example: 

🔴 Scenario 1 – No Boundaries (Free-Range Parenting) 

Your child skips homework multiple times, and you shrug it off, thinking “They’ll figure it out.” There are no consequences, so they never learn responsibility.

Free Range Parenting, it's controversial for all the right reasons!  

🟢 Scenario 2 – Laid-Back, With Boundaries (Authoritative Parenting) 

Your child forgets homework, and instead of punishing them, you have a conversation: “Why did this happen? What’s your plan to stay on track?” They get the space to problem-solve, but they also know skipping responsibilities isn’t an option. 

How I set boundaries while giving autonomy:

✅ Let kids make age-appropriate decisions, but ensure they face natural consequences.
✅ Allow freedom, but with clear non-negotiables (e.g., respect, safety, effort in school).
✅ Be involved without controlling, coach them through challenges instead of fixing everything.

I’m so not an anything-goes parent.

That’s all for today’s issue, parents! 🩷

See you next week, with another interesting topic. But first, check this out 👀⬇️

Inside the Laid-back Parent’s Internet History this week: 

Note for My Fellow Laid-Back Parents 📧

If you’ve ever doubted whether being a chill parent is the right move, trust me, you’re not alone. 

Giving kids autonomy with boundaries isn’t just easier on you, it’s how they grow into confident, capable adults. Keep leading with trust, patience, and a little bit of humor, you’re doing great. 💛

Catch you next time, 

Lakshmi (Chief of Chill Parenting)