Clinical psychologist Lindsay Gibson, author of the viral self-help book Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, returns with a new guide: How to Raise an Emotionally Mature Child. Gibson argues that many parents unknowingly repeat the emotional patterns of their own upbringing, often treating children with less respect than they would a friend.
The cornerstone of her approach: recognizing that your child is “real inside.” They are sentient beings who feel humiliation, embarrassment, and dignity as acutely as adults. She emphasizes that a key parental skill is repair - apologizing when you snap, and explaining your own mistakes.
Gibson urges parents to avoid authoritarianism, especially with teenagers, and instead offer explanations while setting limits. She notes that a child who can apologize is well on their way to emotional maturity, demonstrating self-reflection and empathy.
Even if you didn't have emotionally mature parents, Gibson insists change is possible. “It’s never too late to respond positively to being treated with respect and love,” she says. The payoff: raising a happy, decent human being and building a lifelong relationship.
