What it is
Punishment-parenting the idea is when you treat your own ideas the way an old-school strict parent treats a child: they have to defend their right to exist before they’re allowed to stand. Meanwhile you might be practicing gentle parenting with your actual kids, and even with your own failures.
It’s the inner landlord showing up on the page, charging rent before a thought can move in.
How it shows up for me
I see it most when I write. A sentence has to survive a trial before I let it stay. Lately I’m trying to give my ideas the same patience I give my kids: let them be clumsy for a while before I judge them.