Ep 41: Politicizing Abandonment Wounds & Practicing Interdependence in Parenting

"Because what happens in society trickles down into what happens in our homes. Social norms often become family rules. Abandonment in the home is often a byproduct of structural abandonment from the government."

A woman with short black hair, bright makeup, and colorful earrings, wearing a green embroidered sweater, smiling against a pink background. Text on the image reads 'Come Back to Care with Nat Vikitsreth'.

Episode Summary

A quick note: I’m taking a brief break and returning the first week of November.

In this episode, you and I are going to unpack the concept of “organized abandonment” together. A term that’s enlivened by professor Ruth Wilson Gilmore, a prison abolitionist and scholar. Then, we’ll explore one antidote to abandonment and codependence which is interdependence. We’ll close out the episode with four invitations for you to play with when you practice interdependence in your daily parenting. So that you can strengthen your social justice muscles of interdependence- not codependence- when you go out to your community and advocate for change.

Full episode transcript here.

Social media episode promotion card featuring a woman's photo, episode 41 of a podcast, a quote about capitalism, and icons for Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

Episode Outline

  • Using political analysis to sharpen our parenting strategies.

  • How organized abandonment in society trickles down into abandonment in the home between parents and children.

  • Defining organized abandonment and abolition.

  • How we got catfished by capitalism and punished by it.

  • Applying abolition to parenting, making it a practice of decolonized parenting.

  • One antidote to codependence with capitalism is interdependence with one another.

  • Defining interdependence: 4 examples from nature and spirituality to community organizing.

  • Four invitations to practice interdependence in your daily parenting.

Email icon with an envelope and an '@' symbol inside

Sign up for the Care Collective Newsletter

My wholehearted goal is to be a ray of sunshine in your inbox and send you information and inspiration 1 time (or 2 max) a week.

Cover of a book titled "The In-Out-N-Through Program" with diverse parents and children.
Workshop cover titled "Beyond Time In & Time Out: What to Do with Toddler Tantrums & Meltdowns" by Nat and another part showing a diverse group of children and adults in conversation, with a focus on parenting and managing toddler behavior.

Take what you need, leave the rest.

There are two free trainings for you to choose. Take one or both!

Talking to Kids about Race in Ways that They Get & You Don’t Sweat Course

and/or

Beyond Time In & Time Out: What to Do with Toddler Tantrums & Meltdowns, a Self-Guided Audio Workshop

A colorful, hand-drawn illustration of a jar with three pink hearts on it, set against a large yellow heart background, with orange lines radiating outward.

COME BACK TO CARE IS ON PATREON!

Join me in a virtual gathering once a month for you to digest the information in the podcast with me and other Social Justice Curious listeners.

We'll put awareness into action together with group accountability. I'll facilitate this caring space and you come curious and come as you are. We'll support each other in solidarity and co create decolonized parenting and inner child reparenting in action together.

Open mailbox with an envelope displaying a large at symbol (@) inside.

Check Us Out on Instagram

In this episode, you’ll hear six scripts that you can use or adapt when your little one is asking who immigrants are and why people are protesting. 💫 The l!nk’s in b!o to tune in 💫 if you feel called, please leave us a review & sh
Healing intergenerational wounds to reclaim intergenerational gifts… And bring all of our gifts into our unique roles in collective care. This is the theme of my ki-kinote (keynote) delivery tomorrow with the 5th Birth of Brilliance Confere
✨ We've dropped a BONUS episode today! ✨ In this bonus episode, Deepa Iyer shares her wisdom on staying engaged in social change when you’re a caregiver. You’ll explore the roles you can play in liberation and make your advocacy “s
Can I see your identification and badge? Can I see a judicial warrant signed by a judge?