Pushkin.

What makes some people happier than others?

What allows some people to radiate joy, even in the face of adversity,

while other people can't feel satisfied even

in the best of circumstances. Well, like most human traits, happiness is a very complex

combination of nature and nurture. At least some of the variance we see in people's well-being

is due to their genes, but a lot of it is also due to environmental factors. And few environmental

factors, especially early on, are as powerful as a person's parents.

From the way a parent responds to a child's big emotions, to the values they model in daily life,

caregivers can have a lasting impact on a child's happiness, shaping the way children handle stress,

how they form attachments, and the mindsets they bring to tough problems.

If you're a parent yourself, you're probably very aware of this fact and very worried about it.

It's kind of terrifying to feel like every little choice you make has the potential to either empower your child

or set them up for a lifetime of expensive therapy.

That kind of pressure has always been there for parents.

But these days, things feel even more fraught.

In addition to the usual stresses, moms and dads today need to figure out how to navigate

screen time, how to help their kids stay safe online, how to protect their families from the

loneliness and mental health crises currently plaguing so many people,

and how to help the next generation face a future that feels more precarious than ever.

It's gotten so bad that government officials have begun taking action.

Last summer, the former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy

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