Are PARENTS to blame for their children being single?

The dating world has changed significantly over the past decade, with apps and websites leading to a host of competitive and increasingly shallow singles.

And while many blame the unique dating culture for singles struggling to find love, one dating and relationship expert says  ‘over-indulgent’ and ‘over-protective’ parents are to blame for their ‘perpetually single’ children.  

Speaking to FEMAIL, Louanne Ward said modern parenting trends such as ‘shielding children from life’s disappointments’ and ‘over-compensating for deficiencies in their own childhood’, are creating a ‘desperate and dateless generation with unrealistic expectations’.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Louanne Ward said modern parenting trends are creating a ‘desperate and dateless generation with unrealistic expectations’

And while their approach to parenting is often driven by love, Ms Ward believes ‘today’s mums and dads are failing to teach their kids the basic life skills necessary to become a successful partner’.

It’s no wonder millennials lack emotional resilience and use emotional manipulation to get what they want.

‘Parents are living vicariously through their children, taking them to the sporting commitments, parties, dance classes, concerts and shopping trips they feel they missed out on when they were growing up,’ Ms Ward said.

‘They are forgoing their own hobbies and interests, filling their time with their children’s interests who have better social lives than the dotting parent.’

Ms Ward said parents are always complimenting their children as well – the compliments designed to ‘reinforce how wonderful, perfect, beautiful and amazing they are’.

Ms Ward believes 'today's mums and dads are failing to teach their kids the basic life skills necessary to become a successful partner'

Ms Ward believes ‘today’s mums and dads are failing to teach their kids the basic life skills necessary to become a successful partner’

‘They have a tendency to protect kids from all forms of loss as well – whether it’s coming second in a running race or that first teenage relationship break-up – which is leading to over-inflated egos,’ she said. 

‘It’s no wonder millennials lack emotional resilience and use emotional manipulation like crying or ghosting as tactics to get what they want, which doesn’t set them up for effective and respectful relationships in adulthood.’

Ms Ward said relieving kids of mundane household chores and continuing to do their washing and ironing, not to mention cooking their meals, well into their teens is ‘masking the reality of life’.

‘Now days it is the norm for people to stay at home and remain financially reliant on their parents well into their 20s and 30s,’ she said. 

'Now days it is the norm for people to stay at home and remain financially reliant on their parents well into their 20s and 30s,' she said

‘Now days it is the norm for people to stay at home and remain financially reliant on their parents well into their 20s and 30s,’ she said

‘They can spend their own income on whatever they like, while the parents are still sacrificing to pander to the needs of their baby adults.’

 If you grow up with parents who fight your battles for you, you may find it extraordinarily difficult to attract a mate.

Ms Ward, who has been in the industry for two decades, also believes ongoing financial support is leading kids to a sense of entitlement.

‘This is manifesting in a generation of young women in particular, who wouldn’t dream of a partner that can’t support them in the lifestyle they’ve become accustomed to,’ she said.  

‘But being independent and having the capacity to solve your own problems is essential for social and emotional evolution.

'If you grow up with parents who put you on a pedestal and fight your battles for you, you may find it extraordinarily difficult to attract a mate and navigate the highs and lows of a normal, healthy relationship,' she concluded 

‘If you grow up with parents who put you on a pedestal and fight your battles for you, you may find it extraordinarily difficult to attract a mate and navigate the highs and lows of a normal, healthy relationship,’ she concluded 

‘Being able manage all areas of their life not just their careers, is an attractive quality in a partner, especially if you want to raise a family at some stage.’

To improve the situation, Ms Ward suggests parents stop injecting their own values and perceptions of how a relationship should be onto their millennial children.  

‘They don’t hold back with commentary on how their partner should be treating them or why their partner simply isn’t good enough,’ she said. 

‘If you grow up with parents who put you on a pedestal and fight your battles for you, you may find it extraordinarily difficult to attract a mate and navigate the highs and lows of a normal, healthy relationship.’



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