Parenting Reality Check: Are We Meeting Our Ideals?

Maybe you could do a video on "Gentle parenting" as a concept cause I think there is some confusion about what it means as a theory vs how it is depicted on tiktok and social media. I love the montessori method videos you have done and before researching more I thought gentle parenting was in the same vein but it definitely seems more directed than people are making it out to be.

RIP to the plant. :D

a wonderful video as always, but i especially want to mention how lovely it is to read the comments here, with people sharing all of their thoughts and stories in such thoughtful, kind ways. i know the internet; i know there are certainly plenty of horrible comments we the audience don't see, but every video you post, i always feel so much community. everyone here genuinely cares about you and claudia and rupert, and we love these updates even if we don't personally relate to the subject because we all want happiness for your family. congratulations on meeting so many of your parenting goals, and for doing it so that rupert has the best life he possibly can. you are setting him up for success by surrounding him with love and creativity, nurturing his interests, and instilling in him a sense of bodily autonomy and respect for others, and we are so lucky to get to be on the sidelines cheering you all on!

anyone else sensing the weird tension between them? they seem like a lovely family all in all, but the passive aggressive air is throwing me off

I LOVE Jessica's scandalized reaction to Ken before barbie --
Icon.

I am a bit shocked (in a good way, like very surprised) that I found like I want to start treating myself as you both treat your son! This video is oddly inspiring for me

Sometimes technology is good for children, such as Children with Autism. (My 6 year old has ASD.) But luckily for us, our boy LOVES reading, building lego, drawing and imaginative play, so its all balanced. There's a place for all. My boy loves learning games on his kindle fire. Thats what we use ours for.

I did the same thing as Claudia, playing hide and seek without telling anyone, I do remember crying when my godmother found me and I saw how terrified my mom had been 🥺😅

this is so relatable

Yes, don't open the Pandora's box of screens until you feel its time. We didn't get mt daughter own screen until she was 6 but we dont take it out or use it in the car unless the car journey is more than 2 hours. When we go out to eat we talk or just stuff to hang out as a family.

Jessica definitely wears the trousers in the relationship

Jessica why do you pronounce plastic as plah-stick? 😂

Jessica can you hear Claudia when she's next to you?

You obviously can’t shelter him from screens forever, so I highly recommend reading “how to raise a healthy gamer” before the time comes.

I don’t know how in touch you are with the twitch/gamer community. You might have heard of healthy gamer or Dr. K. He’s an Indian, US-American Psychiatrist, father of two young children, did his residency at Harvard Medical School and specialises in Game addiction.

When I was 15 my mom said how she loves that I’m starting to develop a personality and have likes and dislikes… mam, I’ve had them for the last 14 years, you just chose to ignore them!

I (as a girl) loved doing anything that got me dirty! Re-planting potts, cooking, playing with sand, being in the woods! All of it! Oh and I tried eating everything too. One of my favourite things was to drink out of puddles! I was the opposite of a germphobe.

I work in a forest kindergarten and the children love it. You get your clothes dirty every day so it would definitely not nice for Rupert but all the children enjoy it so much. I always say the concept isn’t for everyone but I wouldn’t wanna do anything else.

I'm really not trying to be rude here, you guys are great parents, but remember to take time to talk about relationship ideals/goals. the tension between y'all reminds me of my parents a bit, they were so focused on parenting well and didn't deeply discuss the differences they had in their parenting philosophies in practice. don't let your communication break down, it'll only set an unhealthy example for kiddo. not trying to make assumptions or tell y'all what to do but I noticed the same thing in your last video together and felt it could be worth saying

You are doing wonderfully and I enjoyed your video. I'm a mother of two and you will do great. The biggest thing I have learned with two you just have to readjust like you have done with your 1st. He doesn't enjoy nature so you don't you it as much and you focus on what he enjoys for example. For my two (28 months and 2 months) Im just going with the flow.😊

Wish we could a list of products you recommend like the books?

Where is this dress from? Does anyone know?

I played tennis from age 4/5! Tennis is very well structured for young ones, very well defined stages, and the balls and court size change as the kids develop further skills. They start off with a very soft sponge ball that’s a bit bigger than a regular tennis ball, lots of throwing and catching, games, and developing hand-eye coordination. I stopped at about 12 for a variety of reasons, but still really enjoy the sport, and it’s made me able to pick up other racket sports fairly easily. Live tennis events (excluding Wimbledon) are also often very accessible price wise. I would definitely recommend it if Rupert has expressed an interest, many clubs hold “open days” where you can meet the staff and learn about what sessions they offer, and try out some activities!

Rupert sounds extra bright and gifted. The packing could be an affinity for geometry. Has he an opinion on figure skating? Have fun in Malaysia.

Rupert is a beautiful example of excellent parenting. Kudos to you both, and thank you for “teaching” so many others what good parenting looks like

I'd love an update on Rupert and Claudia learning to sign ❤

I can’t talk with my parents about stuff. I’m glad you’re raising Rupert in a great way!

You learn to handle the weather better when you are outdoor alot. Also you learn to wear clothing that works better.

Warning: my teen child, who also was not raised watching commercial TV now blames me for not understanding jokes or references with his friends. 😮 Didn’t see that coming! Also, he has now discovered fast food (which I had managed to keep him ignorant of). Great job with all you’re doing with Rupert, just know it may last forever.❤

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This is so amazing to watch. This seems like such a ringing endorsement of your parenting techniques. your toddler literally has more emotional intelligence than most grown ass adults

Thank you for this video! I'd love to hear how Jessica and Rupert are getting along with BSL, if you feel like sharing 😊

Omg he sounds so sweet, y’all are doing awesome

I was a whole 19 years old when I followed the wrong random bald white man in a plain colored shirt for a solid two minutes, thinking it was my dad. They seriously all look the same from behind. I'd said it jokingly before but the fact that it actually happened? Hilarious.

I love these videos, it really solidifies, the parenting style I wish I could have had, and I will 100% try to give that to my own child!
As an autistic I think Montessori sounds really good, my mom told me she wanted me to go to a school by another name (I don't remember the name but it sounded much like Montessori in some ways) and when she told about the principles I was taken aback at how nice it sounded, how much it fitted me and how sad I was to not have had that.
But I hope I can raise my child different, and be able to see what kind of environment suits them when the time comes for education <3

They don't do "taught" classes for 18 months - 3 years old because generally kids hands don't have the dexterity and the hand eye coordination isn't there developmentally, and I'm saying that as a huge child lead, child competence practitioner.. that age and stage is better spent on "free play" which is why dancing is perfect, or messy painting, or sand, or water, or wool craft etc because it's whole body, and emotions, power dynamics, social alongside play rather than direct socialising which tends to happen more at 4-5, and allowing space, so that their imagination has space to flow.. brain development is doing soooooooo much in that first 1000 days, it's really important that time isn't filled up with "learning", but is a gentle environment when they can follow their inner cues and what we could call intuitive bodily feelings and emotions.. so yeah, nature observation is totally as valid as mud pies, walks is totally as valid as running after a large ball, climbing trees or watering pots is totally as valid as grubbing in the forest, it's all about taking in the world, and in you guys house it might be emotional empathy, books, music, cooking, gardening, clothes, and all that gives him the learning of rustling, texture, smell, taste, choice, empathy, sensitivity and self trust and all that is so so so perfectly on point ❤️

I love your genuine hi's Claudia! 😊

Also love Jessica's intros, but the main reason I watch you guys is because your so real ❤

I think the one exception to "will you force your child to do sports" is probably swimming lessons, because that's a life skill and about safety

I've actually heard a lot of parents say from our generation take your kids back to your TV. So little bear. Sesame Street. Little Einsteins is about 20 years old but even that. Shows that did not have excessively bright constantly moving colors. And shows it focused either on learning or just being a good person

for a 2,5 yo child, he's definitely precocious, which makes me wonder if you selected the donor on account of his IQ. I am really happy for you, but I also hope that other parents don't compare their kids and feel bad.

Where’s Jessica’s beautiful hairband from please?

It tickles me so much that Rupert tells on one parent to the other parents 😅

Happened to me; I was in a mall with one of my daughters, and I thought she grabbed my hand, and about 10 yards later we both realized that we had the wrong hands! Luckily my own daughter, and her father, were right behind us (not holding hands tho...)

I'm due in june and wondering if you guys have any book recommendations. I have gotten myself the "the Montessori baby" book already but I want to have different intakes of information 😅

I love that he has the language to express his feelings at such a young age, that's so valuable.

You probably have discovered this but often if a child wants to do it themselves and you need it to get done fast, you can usually set a boundary for their trial at it. For instance buckling a seat belt, you can say: OK. You are 2 years old so you get two tries at it before I will help your body so you stay safe.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has been recommending for years "No screens before 2 years old." There are several reasons I don't remember off the top of my head, but I do recall that studies have shown that they don't learn language from the screen, only from real humans, images change too quickly and there's too much stimuli, AND the interactions with their parents are FAR more nurturing and important and THAT's what they miss out on. You are absolutely doing the right thing, and although I don't want to be judgy, either, it is such a sad state of affairs that so many parents use the screens/pad, and I shudder to think what will be the result when this generation is adults. We've already seen so many social struggles, loneliness, depression, anxiety, with the young adults now that only had TV and video games when they were little, no smart phones and pads, just a "Gameboy"--and a handheld "computer" came along when they were teens. Now that they are starting as babies . . .

I bought one montessori book to my niece, i learn with you guys about it and trying to help my little 2yo here about it

I really like your approach to digital media and how you want to keep it family focused, that it’s something you do together. I just think that’s really nice and if I had a kid I’d want to do the same. When I was little when had the one family desktop (tower and all). And I remember playing educational games on it, which I loved. My parents were very intentional about how long my brother and I were allowed to play on it. My parents definitely encouraged us to do a variety of activities (it was the late 90s and early 2000s though, so I’m sure it is a bit different today). Anyway, I think no screens before 2 is a good goal and I very much enjoyed this video🙂