Permissive Parents as a Microtrend

Kids today may not listen to authority like they did in the last generation, but that may not be a bad thing.

Some people may have been bothered by pollster Mark J. Penn's book Microtrends and its conclusion that permissive parents and their self-managing, in-control kids are shaping the face of America's future.

I'm not bothered at all. In fact, I'm encouraged. The decline of "spare the rod, spoil the child" thinking can only be good for the adults of tomorrow.

Microtends says the rise of pampering parents means babies are being picked up and soothed when they cry at night (as opposed to being left to "cry it out"), children are being talked to and reasoned with when they misbehave (as opposed to being hit or spanked), and teens are being allowed to make lifestyle choices on their own.

"The jury is out on whether we’ll get a more nonviolent society, or more people unwilling to listen to authority,” Penn says in the book.

People unwilling to listen to authority? Or people unwilling to let older, more authoritative figures intimidate them?

One of the differences I see among young people today is that the child of 2008 is more likely to stand up to a teacher who is treating him unfairly, be suspicious of an adult who is trying to con him, and generally have more confidence in his own opinions, and a better ability to make decisions at an earlier age.

Children of my generation may have been more willing to listen to authority, but we also had some measure of fear, awe and deference to all adults, whether or not they deserved it.

If more confident children are the product of being a more permissive parent, I don't think we have to worry too much about what the future holds.