RebelZva – Anarchy Guru

by rebelzva & cptxbonnot

We just read a really interesting piece on the Anarchist Library called “Taking Children Seriously (TCS) and Anarchy.” It hit us right in the heart because we’re about to become parents, and we’ve been thinking a lot about how we want to raise our little one.

The core idea is simple but radical: treat children as real people — not property, not projects, not mini-adults to be controlled or broken in. Respect their autonomy, their feelings, their intelligence, and their right to say “no” the same way we respect other adults. No hitting, no coercion, no “because I said so.” Just honest communication, consent, and cooperation.

For us, that lines up perfectly with how we see anarchy in daily life. We don’t believe in ruling over anyone — including our own child. We want to build a relationship based on trust, not fear or authority. We want our baby to grow up knowing their voice matters, that their boundaries are sacred, and that love doesn’t come with conditions or punishments.

We’re not saying it’ll be easy. We know there will be hard days, tantrums, and moments where we have no idea what we’re doing. But we’d rather make mistakes while trying to treat our child as a full human being than fall back on old patterns of control.

Some highlights that really stuck with us:

– Children are not “future adults” — they are people right now.

– Coercion (even “gentle” coercion) damages trust and teaches that power is more important than connection.

– Real freedom starts at home. If we can’t respect the autonomy of the smallest person in our family, how can we claim to believe in freedom for everyone?

We’re still learning and figuring this out, but this feels like the right direction for us. We want our child to grow up curious, kind, confident, and free-thinking — not obedient out of fear.

What do you think? Have you come across Taking Children Seriously? How do you approach raising kids in a way that aligns with anarchist values? We’d love to hear your thoughts as we start this journey.

rebelzva & cptxbonnot ❤️