Jessica's Parenting Journal

  I finished watching Adolescence on a Tuesday evening and couldn't sleep. Not because it was scary — though it's deeply unsettling — but because of one line the father says near the end. He's a good man. He was paying attention. And he still didn't see it.   If you haven't watched the Netflix limited series yet, here's the premise: a 13-year-old boy from a normal English family is arrested for the murder of his female classmate. The show isn't really about the crime. It's about the question underneath it — how does a child from a loving home end up there? And why didn't anyone see the signs? The show won eight Emmy Awards and became one of Netflix's most-watched series ever, reaching 96.7 million views in its first three weeks across 93 countries. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer watched it with his teenage children and called it essential viewing. British secondary schools were given free access to stream it. Whatever else you think about i...

  I was having my morning coffee when the notification came through: Australia had just banned social media for everyone under 16. World first. Effective immediately. I put down my cup and read it twice.   Whatever you think about government intervention in parenting, this is the biggest children's digital policy story in history — and it didn't stop at Australia's border. Within weeks, Denmark, France, Spain, the UK, Malaysia, Portugal, and several others announced they were developing similar legislation. The global conversation about what social media is doing to our children has shifted permanently. As parents, we need to understand what that means.   Quick Answer: What Is Australia's Social Media Ban? Australia's ban came into force on 10 December 2025. It prohibits children under 16 from holding accounts on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick. Platforms face fines of up to AU$49.5 mill...

  The day my toddler threw her plate across the kitchen for the third time in a week, I sat on the floor next to the mess and genuinely had no idea what to do next.   If you've hit that wall — the one where nothing seems to work, and you feel like you're either too soft or too harsh — you're not alone. Toddler discipline is one of the most searched topics in parenting, and also one of the most confusing. The advice is everywhere and often contradictory. Here's what the research actually says about what works, what backfires, and how parents around the world approach the same challenge.   Why Toddler Behavior Looks Like Misbehavior (But Isn't) Before we talk about strategies, it helps to understand the toddler brain. Between ages 1 and 3, children are experiencing a surge in independence and self-awareness — they know what they want, but they don't yet have the language, emotional regulation, or impulse control to express or manage it. What looks li...

  I cried in the hospital bathroom at 2 a.m. on Day 3. Not because of the sleep deprivation — though that was brutal — but because my baby wouldn't latch properly and I was convinced I was already failing her.   If you've ever felt that guilt or pressure around feeding your newborn, this post is for you. The breastfeeding vs. formula debate is one of the most emotionally charged topics in parenting — and also one of the most misunderstood. Let's cut through the noise with what the research actually says.   What the Official Guidelines Say The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a baby's life, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside solid foods through at least the first year. The World Health Organization (WHO) echoes this, recommending breastfeeding continue for up to 2 years or beyond. These guidelines exist for good reasons. Breast milk contains antibodies that protect newborns from infec...

  I used to think I was a pretty consistent parent. Firm when I needed to be, warm when I could be. Then my oldest hit 13 and I started paying closer attention to my patterns — and what I found was uncomfortable. Half the time I was laying down the law with no explanation. The other half I was so tired of conflict that I’d let things slide I knew I shouldn’t. I wasn’t the parent I thought I was. And my relationship with my daughter was showing it.   Why Your Parenting Style Matters More in the Teen Years Most parenting style research has traditionally focused on early childhood. But the stakes are arguably higher during adolescence. The parenting approach you bring to the teen years directly affects: •        How much your teenager confides in you •        Whether they’re more or less likely to engage in risky behaviors •        How they handle conflict, pressure, and failure ...