Per Lorentzen (1954) graduated from the University of Oslo, Institute of Psychology, as a clinical psychologist in 1984. Early professional work related to psychotherapy, clinical neuropsychology, and rehabilitation psychology. Later professional career related to children with severe multiple handicaps, dual sensory problems (deafblindness) and special needs. Since 2009 attached to Oslo Metropolitan University as a lecturer in psychology related to children’s protection work (Bachelor i barnevern). Lorentzen has published extensively on communication with children with special needs, ethics in social work, and critical analysis of key concepts in children’s protection work, like mentalization theory and the use of neuroscience. The latest publication is Being Parents – Besieged by Experts (1924).

Being a parent is nowadays usually described as “parenting”. It’s supposed to be “the most important, but difficult job in the world”. This concept implies that being parents and raising children is a task which requires specific skills, competencies, knowledge, and deep understanding of children’s emotional needs. “Parenting” does not come naturally or intuitively but requires parents that are competent and informed, by the latest scientific findings on children’s development. Professionals, politicians, and others seem to be increasingly doubtful whether most parents will be able to take good enough care of their children, without consulting advice and recommendations from various experts. Some politicians propose obligatory parenting classes for all new parents. The number of handbooks and internet sites that want to enlighten parents as to what constitutes the optimal style of parenting practice, has skyrocketed over the last decades. This keynote speech will discuss the consequences for the parent-child relationship when and if parents abstain from their authoritative role as caretakers, leave much of their responsibility to outside experts, and stop trusting their own thinking and judgement.