Can being your child's 'soulmate' backfire?

Parents today want to be more involved in their children's lives, leading to the rise of soulmate parenting.

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But can being too involved cause problems?We live in an era where expressing emotions openly has become the norm, and this shift has significantly influenced modern parenting. Gone are the days when fathers sat on the side-lines with a straight face, watching mothers shoulder the responsibility of childcare. Today, fathers actively embrace parenthood, sharing the joys, challenges, and moments of raising a child alongside mothers—and sometimes even taking the lead.This wave of free-flowing emotions has brought parents closer to their children, giving rise to soulmate parenting, where both parents are deeply involved in every aspect of their child's life.But could being too involved unintentionally harm your relationship with your child?

Understanding soulmate parentingSumalatha Vasudeva, psychologist, Gleneagles BGS Hospital, Bengaluru, tells India Today that soulmate parenting is a modern approach where a parent takes on multiple roles to nurture a deeper emotional connection with their child."The parent acts as a best friend, providing companionship and trust; a sensitive listener, understanding the child's emotions without judgement; a cheerleader, offering encouragement and motivation; and a diagnostician, identifying and addressing the child's developmental and emotional needs," she explains.Further, Dr Rahul Chandhok, head consultant, mental health and behavioural science, Artemis Hospital, Guruguram, says that this style of parenting is not only about developing strong bonds. It is about providing children with emotional resilience and self-awareness.When balanced with appropriate boundaries, this approach fosters a nurturing environment that can support emotional and intellectual growth.

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