Second Take Tuesday – Connection, kids, Future

If there’s one episode that made me question the foundation of how we raise human beings, it’s this one.

My guest this week was Jessica Joelle Alexander, author of The Danish Way of Parenting — a book that’s been translated into more than 30 languages and has quietly shaped the way parents around the world think about empathy, discipline, and emotional safety.

But this wasn’t just a conversation about parenting. It was a conversation about culture, self-awareness, and the kind of adults we’re becoming — or failing to become — as we raise children in a world that’s increasingly fractured, distracted, and numb.

Jessica told me that parenting is cultural. That most of us think we’re parenting from instinct, when in fact, we’re parenting from inheritance — unconscious patterns passed down through generations, shaped by the societies we come from. Some of those patterns are beautiful. Some are deeply broken.

“What we normalize in childhood becomes the foundation of how a society functions.”

That line stuck with me.

Because when we look at the rise in anxiety, in depression, in burnout, in male loneliness, in fractured families, and reactive leadership — we’re not just seeing social issues. We’re seeing parenting legacies playing out on a national scale.

We talked about how Danish culture prioritizes:

• Hygge — the practice of togetherness and presence

• Reframing — teaching kids to find opportunity in failure

• No ultimatums — leading through trust, not fear

• Emotional honesty — normalizing vulnerability, especially for boys

• Balance — not perfection

Jessica’s work made me reflect on my own childhood. And more importantly, it made me look hard at how I’m showing up for my kids today. How I respond to their emotions. How I model handling stress. Whether I’m truly listening—or just managing.

Because the truth is, the way we raise children says everything about who we are. Not who we say we are — who we actually are when no one’s watching.

And if we want a better future, it won’t come from better tech or more policies.
It’ll come from better parenting — parenting that heals instead of repeats. That roots instead of reacts.

What I Took Away

• You parent from who you are — not what you read.

• Emotional safety is the foundation for resilience.

• Culture begins in the home, in how we respond to tears, failure, and fear.

Your Weekly Jolt

Quiet intensity. This one’s meant to sting.

Don’t tell me who you want to become.
Show me how you respond when your child is melting down.
Show me what you model when you're late, stressed, and tired.
That’s your legacy.

You don’t need to be a perfect parent.
But you damn sure need to be an honest one.

Raise the child in front of you. Heal the one inside of you.

Next Week: I sit down with Mads Larsen, a sharp voice in the global conversation around masculinity, identity, and cultural evolution. We talk about the myths and narratives shaping young men, the media’s role in distorting reality, and how we can separate real social problems from moral panic. This one will challenge assumptions—yours and mine.

Thanks for reading Second Take Tuesday
If you’re a parent, a son, a daughter, or someone trying to lead with more empathy — this one’s for you.

See you next week,
Daniel