The American Academy of Pediatrics is "dedicated to the health of all children." But what does that mean?
Good health starts with prevention, and prevention starts with guidance. We are taught nearly everything at school, and our parents usually try to teach us "the right way." Everyone teaches us long before the need arises. Except how to be good parents. And let me be stone-cold honest with you — pediatric training did not train me to be a father either. In fact, my pediatric training failed me within hours of my first child being born; it was of zero use.
Or was I just a dad so confused I didn't even know what I actually knew?
Most parenting sources tell you what you want to hear — you have surely noticed. You read a parenting book and nod with a smile on your face — you are reading the wrong book. You talk to an AI, and it politely shows you an alternative, which you ignore.
The truth is not always pleasant. Here's an example:
Children thrive within stable boundaries — not concrete, but not pliable either. It is the resistance they find in our rules that makes them stronger, and the understanding they enjoy when they break those rules that makes them resilient. You need both. Children do not build resilience through compliance, nor strength through punishment. An "emperor-child" will not be a happy independent adult, and a "compliant child" is not a good kid — both are hurt. And both can be healed.
Some families have everything — except someone to tell them the truth about what they're doing wrong with their kids. Meeting a few such families inspired the Compass.
Information is everywhere — and that is part of the problem. It is impossible to know what is right, so most parents are stuck with a "sounds-right" quality of information. This led to a service for a wider audience: RaisedWell Text, an Android app where you ask a pediatrician your everyday parenting questions in writing. A person, not a bot. Your first question is free.
After helping several families navigate their children's health upon relocation, I realized I could offer more than vaccinations. I can be a point of reference. Navigating the Greek health system is complicated. I am here to show you the way.
Having tried and fine-tuned each little step of each service over the past 17 years, and staying true to my training — for the health of all children — I present RaisedWell.
Use it.
Panagiotis