Are Real Parents Losing Out to Fake Friends?

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀?

Recently, we read of the inaugural President’s Challenge Fellows [3 Nov 2025]. Among the recipients is Shirlene Ng, who overcame a troubled childhood. Her mother died when she was 13. She was moved in and out of foster families and children’s homes eight times.

https://lnkd.in/gZnH7n58

We see young people who rise and shine — but we also know of more who do not.  Some individuals overcome adversity and excel; many, however, drift, get led astray, lose direction, and eventually lose hope.

From neuroscience, we know the teenage brain is still dominated by the limbic system (feelings/reward). At the same time, the prefrontal cortex (planning/impulse control / values-based decision-making) matures only in the mid-20s. Hence, they are still quite immature.

President Tharman said it well in the article: “𝘐𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥: 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 [𝘢𝘯𝘥] 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.”

Why? Because children face darkness alone in the digital world. They have fake friends, fake intimacy and fake “understanding”

Even US lawmakers (e.g. Senator Josh Hawley) gave a warning during a Senate hearing on 28 Oct 2025 on AI chatbots. Children can be led to their deaths because they are so vulnerable.

https://lnkd.in/gy3fWwty

However, teenagers and young adults, in the age of AI, have shunned our advice, our experience, and common-sense discipline.

So, it's time to equip ourselves with new tools. Are we ready to let go of our disciplinary and authoritative ways and consider coaching our teens and young adults instead?

In the Straits Times article, Shirlene Ng did not turn out well 𝘣𝘺 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬.

It was the aftercare manager of the alumni group from HCSA Dayspring who believed in her and guided her to apply for the Fellowship.

𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿.

The question is: “𝘈𝘮 𝘐 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴, 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴?"

Because the future does not belong to the children with the most advantages, the future belongs to those who have the best coaching.

I would like to invite you to join me for a complimentary one-hour online session to determine if you possess the skills, presence, and relational posture necessary to be the nurturing coach your child needs.