I never play with my kids at the playground. Other parents may think I'm lazy, but there's a good reason I sit back.

Jodie Lopez has always wanted her kids to be independent. Courtesy of Jodie Lopez Jodie Lopez is a single mom raising two boys to be independent and responsible from a young age. She expects them to clean their rooms, carry their bags, and manage their own screen time. She believes giving kids responsibility helps them become confident and capable adults. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jodie Lopez. It has been edited for length and clarity. When I first became a mother,

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