You Don't
Own Them
less control, and relationships that last.
You Don't Own Them
You Don’t Own Them offers a grounded, honest approach to parenting built on self-awareness, communication, and trust. Instead of rigid rules or perfect answers, Jonathan Smolowe invites parents to think more deeply about the choices they make and the relationships they build with their children.
About The Author
Jonathan Smolowe is an author, father of three adult children, and longtime business executive whose perspective has been shaped by leadership, entrepreneurship, and hard-earned life experience.
In You Don’t Own Them, he brings a grounded, honest voice to parenting not as a psychologist or parenting expert, but as a father who has made mistakes, paid attention, and come to believe that parenting is ultimately about presence, humility, and relationship.
Audio Book
Coming Soon
What Readers Are Saying
Parents, grandparents, and readers from all walks of life have
connected with the book’s honest, practical, and commonsense approach.
Emily
Mark
Jennifer
Robert
“What stood out most was the balance. There are no perfect answers here, just thoughtful conversations about raising kids and building lasting relationships.”
Thoughtful parenting starts with self-awareness.
Latest Articles
Explore Jonathan’s latest writing on parenting, family relationships, self-awareness, and the challenges of raising children with honesty, connection, and intention.
Author
Most parents who hover, correct, and manage every detail of their child’s life aren’t trying to cause harm. They’re trying to prevent it. But research and real-world experience keep pointing to the same uncomfortable truth: the more tightly we control our children, the more anxious they tend to become.
Author
“Just set boundaries.” It’s the most common piece of parenting advice out there and one of the most misunderstood. Somewhere between “let kids be kids” and “control every outcome,” a lot of parents lose track of what a boundary actually is.
Author
One of the biggest mistakes made by parents may be rather obvious. We dedicate ourselves to raising children when we should actually be trying to raise adults. While these two concepts may sound like similar, there’s a huge difference between them once you dig in.