You would think that people who have successfully raised children could and should be wells of knowledge and expertise. But parenting trends change from day to day. What worked for one generation might not always work for the next. There are different styles and philosophies about how we should raise children.
Everyone’s talking about gentle parenting. Then, there are the Montessori parents and those who believe in a monochromatic aesthetic for their children's toys and room decor. And now, there’s a new trend called "scrunchy parenting."
Scrunchy parenting combines two parenting styles.
The new style of parenting combines two opposing approaches: the "crunchy" parent and the "silky" one. For those who don’t know, a crunchy parent is one committed to a natural lifestyle. They may opt for a home birth, buy wooden toys instead of plastic ones, use cloth diapers for their children, and may opt for breast milk over formula. Silky parents are different …
Moms are explaining and documenting the trend on social media.
A silky parent wants the comfort and security of a hospital for childbirth. They don’t mind plastic toys, use disposable diapers, and might not have a strong preference between breast milk or formula feeding.
If you combine the two styles, you have a scrunchy parent. For instance, TikToker, @Jesskkatz uses a compost bin and cloth diapers, but her children play with plastic toys and she has a fully stocked shelf of modern medicines.
Some moms are identifying with the term even before giving birth.
Another mom, @scrunchymomsclub, shares that she parents the way she does to encourage more sustainable living for future generations. She’s committed to her decision although she’s received pushback from people who don’t get it.
Even women who are still carrying their children are grappling with the choices they plan to make when their children arrive. Parents combine ideologies to live a life of both ease and consciousness.
The term is meant to allow for more freedom and flexibility in raising children.
The term scrunchy embraces the reality that a real parenting style isn’t often just one thing or one way. The term also frees moms from the expectation of having to do things perfectly or feeling inadequate when they don’t adhere to a certain style.
"It's kind of like, holistic meets modern type of mom," says TikToker @mama.dee21. Basically: you do you, mama!
