Is Minimalist Parenting The Answer To Over-Parenting?

Minimalist Parenting, ‘Manimalist’ Style makes references to being a "laid-back" parent, as opposed to "over-parenting" and trying to provide the latest and “best” of everything for their children.

Are those really the opposite sides of the parenting spectrum? While there are clear downsides to being a neurotic, stressed out parent, being "laid-back" has its consequences as well.

Children benefit from an amount of discipline and consistency that is often lacking in "easygoing" parents. Being adequately thoughtful and determined does not result in overloading a child with activities, or always providing them with the best and latest toy, gadget, or enrichment opportunity.

On the contrary, a mindful parent sees the long term benefits of saying "no" to providing their child with everything, with occupying every moment of their free time, with solving all their problems, or with eliminating every obstacle for them.

A mindful parent seeks a well balanced environment of opportunities and challenges. Among all the activities that engage and challenge a child is having them deal with down time, and time to let their imagination and creativity take over for a while. A mindful parent sees the benefit taking time for themselves and others, and letting their child know that they are not always the priority. Children cannot reach their potential if they're never left to solve their own problems and overcome their own adversity. Children will benefit from learning to deal with disappointment and consequences early, which will never happen if they're every request is granted.

By conflating "over-parenting" with any amount of mindfulness and effort a parent may put into their child raising and development we introduce the risk of discouraging such thoughtfulness, which is never a good thing.