Picture this. Your child comes home with a special assignment from school. He's very excited about it and puts in a lot of time to perfect it. He's thrilled with the result and can't wait to take it to school.
A few days later, he comes through the door, picks a fight with a younger sibling and bursts into tears. Finally, he manages to tell you that the project he was so proud of was 'unacceptable,' that the teacher wants him to do it over.
What's your first reaction?
a) Protective - "I'll straighten this out."
b) Embarrassed - "MY son always gets good grades."
c) Angry - "That teacher is picking on my son!"
d) Worried - "This could be damaging to his self esteem."
e) Grateful- "He's got someone who's really going to push him to reach his potential this year."
I think that lots of parents want to believe that 'e' is the right answer.... I just remember wishing that it wasn't so difficult to stifle all of the other reactions on my way to that answer! Sometimes the urge to protect goes a bit too far.
As parents, it's not our job to see that our children never experience sadness, disappointment or frustration. As much as most of us would like to, we're probably not going to be able to keep those things out of their lives -- now OR when they become adults. But, we can do the next best thing.
We can invest the time that it takes to prepare them to face life's struggles.
Instead of trying to shield our kids from 'negativity' let's help them embrace tough situations. Why not use the bumps provided by the classroom or the playground to build the strengths they'll need when applying for a job or surviving an unhappy supervisor?
Isn't that real learning?
Andrea Patten is the co-author of What Kids Need to Succeed: Four Foundations of Adult Achievement now available on Amazon.com
To find out more about The Four Foundations or to request that Andrea speak to your group, please visit http://www.whatkidsneedtosucceed.com
"....because you're not raising a child, you're raising a future adult!"
monthly home cleaning Buffalo Grove ..Many children who suffer from the psychological effects of child... Read More
The formula is pretty straightforward: energy in/energy out. This is... Read More
If you are currently homeschooling or considering homeschooling your child,... Read More
Do any other reality TV junkies remember a show on... Read More
Every school year parents and students dutifully trudge through the... Read More
Our children are growing up bilingual in the French part... Read More
1. Make stronger connections among individuals and, therefore, creates a... Read More
The Real Dangers to Kids Online and How to Avoid... Read More
Every now and then I'll get a story sent to... Read More
Giving with a happy heart. If you teach a child... Read More
We are all familiar with the stories that most students... Read More
What are the easiest things citizens can do to prevent... Read More
The word no is probably the most overused word in... Read More
Assuming there are no serious motor problems present, what can... Read More
At the ADHD Information Library we are big believers that... Read More
Start some gardening traditions with your kids. Give them their... Read More
When choosing the perfect jogging stroller, a very important question... Read More
Moms and dads, are there times you think that parenting... Read More
Is there anything wrong with lying, cheating, stealing, shop-lifting, taking... Read More
For many years underparenting was perhaps the biggest problem facing... Read More
It can be hard being a parent with a teen... Read More
I was changing Ford's diaper the other day when he... Read More
What parents of a teen haven't wondered where their sweet... Read More
Best friends! It may seem impossible to believe, but today's... Read More
All responsible parents would want to support their children, find... Read More
scheduled maid service Mundelein ..I hear from many parents that their child is stressed... Read More
Why Is Spending Time with Your Child So Important?For children... Read More
On a recent Saturday evening, I noticed a young teen-age... Read More
Researched through personal experience!Budget Your Money. Even if you are... Read More
Until about the age of six, children do not generally... Read More
'Picky Eater' is a label coined to describe the phenomenon... Read More
Although many parents are concerned with our children's intelligence quotient... Read More
This year alone, 1,600 teenagers aged 15 to 19 will... Read More
Uh oh.Your kids arrive home with their school reports and... Read More
Optimists do better academically, socially and enjoy better health than... Read More
1 - Forgive even if you will never be able... Read More
An Awesome Dad in by no means perfect. But that... Read More
The Theme from MASHI flipped the button on the remote... Read More
Kitchens are where everything happens. It's not just where meals... Read More
Homes should be run by parents, not children. So many... Read More
How would you like to have more time? Of course... Read More
Are you worried about your child's reading habits? Perhaps you... Read More
I'm sure many of you have heard that old Hallmark... Read More
The last decade has seen heightened interest in and awareness... Read More
For many years underparenting was perhaps the biggest problem facing... Read More
Mealtimes together deserve an important place in any family. Around... Read More
The First Reason: For one thing, child development experts are... Read More
The girl's jaw dropped in horror as the police officer... Read More
Many parents struggle to know which foods are healthy for... Read More
Is Homework Really That Important?Dear Friends,I no longer teach in... Read More
Parenting |