Long Days, Short Years: A Cultural History of Modern Parenting

“The verb form of parent is a relatively new entry in our collective lexicon, and not a particularly salubrious one,” writes Bomback (Doctor), a physician and “not a particularly good” parent, in this charming outing. As he addresses “how come it can be so much fun to be a parent and yet so incredibly frustrating” to raise children, he lays out a history of parenting styles: there’s “consumer parenting,” for example, in which parents are like “amateur golfers” who are anxious, but “the gear, the getup, the proximity to professionalism make them just a little bit more confident”; helicopter parenting and its opposite, the “free-range parent” movement; as well as “precision parenting,” in which child-rearing approaches are unique to each person’s situation. No matter the approach, Bomback writes, parenting is “the most gender-normative component of modern adulthood.” The author also shares candid personal anecdotes: one sees him confess to his wife how angry his son made him, which led to the realization that he was often a “better doctor than a father.” The author’s determination to be a better parent is evident and motivating, and his wide-ranging study makes for a fascinating look at caretaking philosophies. Parents will find this full of insight. (Aug.)