A recent report surveying nearly 24,000 parents and over 40,000 children found something striking: the kind of parenting our society most supports is the kind that keeps children quiet, often with a screen.

Every year it happens. February rolls in. The sky turns gray. The snow lingers. The motivation dips. Teachers push hard academically. Spring break feels far away. Sunlight is scarce. Everyone is tired.

A mom recently wrote that she feels like she missed something crucial in her childhood. There was trauma and wounds that followed her into adulthood. Now she is determined that her children will never experience what she did. If you’re a parent, you probably understand that instinct.