What's a Parent's Role?

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Clinical research suggests a grimly specific recommendation for modern parenting.

According to the data, there's an evolutionary sweet spot for parental longevity.

The findings may influence reproductive preferences.

As an adult adoptee, I’ve borne witness to the stress my parents endured once they signed my paperwork and brought me home to another foster kid and a much smarter German Shepherd. It would take years, however, before the realization began to gel that they likely regretted this purchase.

They’d never admit it, but the evidence was breadcrumbed over a long duration. I once overheard them tell a friend, “We were awaiting a third child from the orphanage, but after Jon we called to tell them ‘we’re all done here.’” And then there was the skewed amount of time my dad spent with my brother versus me. Dad also never picked me up from jail when I called.

Evolution Wants Progeny, Not Burnout

It turns out the human body prefers chaos in moderation. Even at the cellular level. Whether it’s drinking alcohol, staying up late, or cannabis use, science is here to once again harsh our mellow: Parenting is a contact sport for your biological age.

Biological aging peaks somewhere........

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