X user Laura’s thread was a viral hit. At the time of writing, the entire discussion was viewed a jaw-dropping 47.5 million times on the social network. The thread also spread elsewhere on the internet and was picked up by some media outlets.

Clearly, the topic meant a lot to people. Nostalgia is a very powerful way to connect to your audience. The simple fact is that many people enjoy reminiscing about their past… Or, well, at least about the periods when they felt happy, free, and empowered.

How parents go about raising their children is up to them, so long as they’re taking care of their physical and emotional needs. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Nor is every piece of parenting advice going to fit every family’s unique situation. 

However, some fundamentals remain the same. Research shows that authoritative parenting is the best style, leading to far better results than permissive, authoritarian, or neglectful parenting.

According to research, authoritative parents provide a good blend of structure, transparency, and genuine connection. These parents are very open about the rules they enforce. They take the time to talk to their children about why these boundaries are necessary and what the consequences will be if they’re overstepped. And they do their best to take their kids’ thoughts and feelings into account.

Kids who grow up in authoritative households usually become well-adjusted and happy adults. They’re confident and cheerful. They’re independent and energetic. And they tend to be well-educated, very curious, and prone to cooperating with other people. They also know their own worth and have fewer self-esteem issues than kids who were raised using different parenting styles.

Most parents would probably agree that they want their children to grow up to be happy, kind, skilled, and respected members of the community. It’s up to the parents to set a good example. Children tend to copy the behaviors and attitudes of authority figures. So, if their parents say one thing but do something entirely different, it can be confusing.

There needs to be consistency in how parents behave and what values they promote. For instance, if you want your kid to be more independent and self-reliant, you need to loosen the reins a bit. You need to let your child explore the neighborhood and play outside with less supervision. This won’t happen if you’re a helicopter parent, constantly hovering near them, scared for their safety, and rushing to their aid to solve every tiny inconvenience.

Similarly, if you want your munchkin to be empathetic and altruistic, you have to put in the time and energy to set a good example. You could volunteer for a cause together. Or you could donate some toys or food to the needy during the holidays. However you approach this question, you need to show that it’s part of your actual lifestyle.

One issue that many modern parents run into is the amount of time that their children spend in front of screens. Most folks would probably prefer their kids to use their free time differently. Whether that’s being outside, making new friends, learning new skills, etc. However, the CDC reports that kids aged 8 to 18 spend an average of 7.5 hours in front of screens every day. More than half of this time (4.5 hours) is spent watching TV.

The recommended amount of time that kids should spend being physically active, according to the CDC, is at least an hour each day. Time spent on social media, playing video games, and binging videos is time that could be spent on being active, socializing, reading, and learning new skills. But parents cannot expect their kids to have healthy boundaries with tech if they don’t set a proper example.