Episode Description
In this episode of The Parent Hope Podcast, I’m joined by preeminent social historian Peter N. Stearns, whose work has been deeply influential in shaping my understanding of how childhood and parenting have evolved over time.
We will explore the historical roots of today’s parenting culture—from rising anxiety about children’s outcomes to the growing expectations placed on parents to constantly guide, manage, and optimize their children’s lives.
As I discuss in The Parenting Paradox, when parents are caught in a cycle of increasing effort and concern, it can inadvertently add to the very pressures children face. This conversation brings much-needed context to that paradox—helping parents step back, see the bigger picture, and reconsider what truly supports children’s and their own wellbeing.
This is an episode about clarity, perspective, and relief. Because when we understand where these expectations come from, we’re better able to loosen their hold—and support our children with greater confidence in their natural capacities.
Peter N. Stearns is Professor of History Emeritus at George Mason University, where he taught courses in world history and social history. In 2021, Dr. Stearns received the American Historical Association recognition for a lifetime of distinguished scholarship
He has taught previously at Harvard, the University of Chicago, Rutgers, and Carnegie Mellon; he was educated at Harvard University.
Stearns is a past vice president of the American Historical Association. He has served as chair of the Advanced Placement World History committee and founded and served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Social History. Stearns is the author or editor of over 100 books and innumerable articles.
The writings that have mostly influenced Dr Brown’s works are: Anxious Parents: A History of Modern Childrearing in America; co-author of The American Child: the transformation of childhood since World War II.
Anxious Parents: A History of Modern Childrearing in America;
The American Child: the transformation of childhood since World War II
https://academic.oup.com/book/60679
And the paper: Stearns PN (2019) Happy Children: A Modern Emotional Commitment. Front. Psychol. 10:2025. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02025
Bios
