Be the safe place

You are parenting a child with tremendous potential. Their intellect, creativity, and curiosity are the raw ingredients that, if developed properly, can carry them to a bright future as an astrophysicist, professional lacrosse player, or stock broker. Or who knows, maybe something really exciting like a social worker. The sky really is the limit! ;-)

So it’s perfectly natural that your instinct is to push them to fulfill that potential. There’s a reason the marines have drill sergeants. Discipline and courage are made when adversity necessitates them. Diamonds are only made under pressure, right?

There’s some truth to that, but there’s a lot of adversity in a kid’s world already. Parents don’t need to artificially create it. Between school, friends, and the lacrosse coach, plenty of people are pushing your kid to be their best.

But who is being their safe place? If you’re not doing it, is anybody? 

All of us seek an ebb and flow, exertion and rest, experiment and learn. You probably have it in your life: weekdays full of hustle and weekends spent in margaritaville. Back and forth you go.

Kids are no different. They need both the challenges that bring out the best in them, and a safe place to rest and recover. 

The world gives them plenty of challenges. Do you give them the right amount of safety? 

Parents: be the safe place where your kids can recover.