Inheriting Love, Adapting the Method
Before we dive into the topic, let me take you back to my childhood.
I was born in a remote mountainous village, where life moved slowly and simply. My home was a tiny muddy hut with cracked walls and a thatched roof. We didn’t have clocks or smartphones to wake us up. The first ray of sunlight peeked through the cracks. It gently touched my face. It reminded me—a new day had begun. The crowing of the rooster and the distant call to prayer from the mosque were our natural alarm clocks. They didn’t beep or buzz, but they stirred life into the stillness of dawn.
The air was cool and fresh, filled with the scent of moist earth and blooming wildflowers. I’d lie there for a moment, listening to the world slowly waking up. I heard cows mooing and birds singing. Mothers were preparing breakfasts. Children laughed as they ran barefoot through the dewy grass. Despite the lack of material resources, my heart brimmed with dreams and quiet determination. Every growing tree branch seemed to tell me, “Your time will come too.” Each glance at the mountain peaks filled me with resilience.
Our parents were poor, yet rich in values. They couldn’t offer luxuries, but they gave us strength through love, sacrifice, and hard work. I watched them struggle quietly, and it taught me early on that dignity lies in effort. My school was just a short walk away—a rundown building with broken chairs and cracked walls. There was no drinking water available, and if we were thirsty, we had to walk to the village well. There were no lunch boxes, no stainless-steel water bottles, and definitely no thermally packed snacks. Still, we learned—grateful for every chalk-written blackboard and every lesson shared under a leaking roof.
We lived in harmony with nature. Summers didn’t feel unbearable. We played outdoors under the trees. The wind and sunlight taught us more than any screen ever. Nature grounded us, challenged us, and nourished us.
Now, I look at my children… and I can feel
They sleep in air-conditioned rooms. Closed windows block out not only sunlight but also the sounds and sensations of the world outside. There are no roosters or morning breeze to greet them—just the synthetic beep of digital alarms. Their mornings begin with screens in their faces before their feet touch the floor. They wake up in silence, missing the village sounds of life stirring.
Also having so much more in terms of material comfort. They have perfectly packed school bags, water bottles with cooling insulation, smart devices, and endless entertainment. However, they lack what once made childhood magical: connection with the earth, with people, and with the moment.
We find ourselves in this unique moment in time. We were raised by parents from an analog world. Yet, we are raising children in a digital one. The values of love, respect, discipline, and hard work were passed on to us through bedtime stories. We received them during family meals, quiet mentorship, and verbal guidance. There were no parenting blogs and no child psychology reels. There were no emotional intelligence apps. Instead, there were just real conversations and unspoken lessons taught through example.
Now, as parents of Generation Alpha—the first truly digital generation—we find ourselves navigating a brand new parenting landscape. We’re juggling inherited values with modern realities like AI tutors. We face screen time battles and use emotional regulation apps. There’s constant pressure to “raise digitally smart kids.”
This post delves into how our upbringing shapes our parenting choices. It examines the ongoing challenge of balancing past wisdom with current-day tools. It also discusses what it truly means to raise children in a world. This world is vastly different from the one that raised us.
Section 1: What We Inherited from Our Parents
The strengths We Carry Advance are;
Discipline Through Routine
We grew up with well-defined routines. Bedtime was bedtime. Meals were together. Homework had its set hours. These rhythms gave structure to our days and predictability to our lives. As parents today, many of us try to replicate this structure, believing that routine fosters discipline and security. In the chaos of modern living—school, screen time, activities, and work—these foundational routines help children feel stable and safe.
Respect for Elders and Community Values
In many households—especially across South Asia and the Middle East—families treated respect as non-negotiable. They honored elders and placed community at the center of daily life. As parents today, we instinctively pass these values on to our children. We teach them to greet grandparents, speak politely, and act considerately, reflecting our deep-rooted traditions. The challenge is to uphold these principles while also encouraging healthy questioning and independence. independence.
Resilience and Gratitude
Our parents didn’t rush to entertain us. We played with what we had, dealt with boredom, and adapted. We were growing up grateful for little joys because luxury was not the demand. Today, we often try to protect our children from discomfort. However, our childhood resilience reminds us. Discomfort builds strength. Balancing empathy with resilience is one of the most valuable parenting skills we now need.
Section 2: What May No Longer Fit in Parenting in the Digital Age
? Authoritarian Styles
“Because I said so” used to be a common way to end a discussion. It may have worked when authority wasn’t questioned. However, today’s children are growing up in an era where curiosity is encouraged. Access to answers is just a click away. Gen Alpha demands engagement and explanation. Authoritarian parenting styles can create resistance or emotional distance.
? Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child emphasizes responsive parenting over controlling strategies: DevelopingChild.Harvard.edu
Privacy as Taboo
Conversations about feelings, mental health, or personal boundaries were often brushed aside in older generations. Emotions were either suppressed or minimized. Now, we understand the dangers of silence—especially around issues like bullying, anxiety, or puberty. Today’s parenting in the digital age requires openness and trust-building so children feel safe discussing anything without fear of shame.
Blind Trust in Tradition
Tradition provides continuity—but unquestioned traditions can also limit growth. Our generation often finds itself evaluating customs: Are they inclusive? Do they encourage creativity or conformity? Conscious parenting today involves honoring tradition while critically examining its relevance in a tech-driven world.
Section 3: What We’re Learning Anew
Digital Literacy and Online Safety
Unlike our parents, we’re not just protecting kids from bad company—we’re protecting them from algorithms, predators, and viral misinformation. From screen time to cyberbullying, today’s parenting includes lessons on privacy settings, online etiquette, and critical thinking. We’re learning how to explain what a “digital footprint” is. We also explain why “stranger danger” includes someone who sends a friend request online.
Check out this parent guide on cyberbullying and online safety.
Emotional Intelligence Over Obedience
Where once obedience was the goal, emotional intelligence is now the aim. We’re teaching kids how to name their feelings, set boundaries, and respect others’ perspectives. Unlike in our childhood, crying isn’t weakness, and talking back (respectfully) is growth. These are tools Gen Alpha needs in a world of social media, virtual classes, and remote relationships.
Learn about emotion coaching from The Gottman Institute.
Collaborative Learning and Play
We were handed textbooks and told to memorize. Today’s kids learn through Minecraft, YouTube, and co-building robots with AI. That doesn’t mean we’ve abandoned books—but we’re expanding what learning looks like. As parents, we’re learning too: how to blend play with purpose, tech with time-outs, and curiosity with limits.
Explore this blog on building digital literacy in Gen Alpha.
Section 4: Navigating the Tension Between Generations
Guilt from Both Sides
We often feel guilty: for being stricter than today’s norms or for being more relaxed than our parents were. We wonder if our kids are too exposed or too sheltered. This internal tug-of-war is real—and valid. We’re learning to sit with that discomfort, reminding ourselves that parenting in the digital age is uncharted territory. There’s no perfect balance—only conscious choices, reflection, and course-correction.
Family Pressure and Cultural Expectations
Many of us still hear phrases like, “In our time, we never questioned elders!” or “You’re spoiling the child.” Navigating between grandparents’ values and our own digital parenting logic can be tough. It’s about bridging understanding—sharing why we avoid corporal punishment or why we let our kids use educational apps. Instead of defending, we can involve elders in the new parenting journey.
Self-Doubt in the Face of Tech
Our parents never had to think about screen limits, Roblox chats, or AI-generated homework. We often feel unsure—are we being too lax? Too strict? Are we equipped to raise digitally wise children? The truth is: we’re all learning. And it’s okay to seek help, whether from digital literacy blogs, child psychologists, or parent communities.
Section 5: Conscious Parenting for Generation Alpha
Choosing What to Pass On
Not everything from our childhood should be discarded. The joy of unplugged play, the warmth of shared meals, the respect for nature—these values are timeless. We must decide consciously what to preserve, adapt, or let go of. Instead of defaulting to “That’s how I was raised,” we ask, “Is this what my child needs today?”
Creating Safe Digital Boundaries
We can’t—and shouldn’t—ban screens entirely. But we can co-create rules: screen-free zones, daily limits, and content filters. More importantly, we explain the “why” behind those rules. Children raised with transparency and trust are more likely to internalize healthy habits than rebel against them.
Check out the 4S screen-time strategy: Structure, Screen-free zones, Socializing, and Self-care.
Building a Bridge Between Generations
We are the bridge. Between the storytelling of our elders and the AI prompts of our kids, bedtime lullabies and podcasts. Between handwritten letters and emojis. Let’s embrace the beauty of being that bridge—rooted in tradition, reaching toward the future.
Final Thoughts: From Survival to Consciousness
Our parents parented with love—but often in survival mode, focused on obedience and order. We have the privilege of parenting with consciousness. We can talk mental health, question traditions, allow space for identity exploration, and model vulnerability. Generation Alpha doesn’t need perfect parents—they need present, evolving ones.
By balancing inherited wisdom with new knowledge, we’re creating a more connected, emotionally intelligent, and digitally resilient generation.
Let’s continue the journey—not perfectly, but consciously.
Related links
https://raisingdigitalminds.com/2025/07/01/painting-on-canvas-or-rocks
https://developingchild.harvard.edu
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