Experience is the Best Teacher: Preparing Kids for Life Beyond Academics by Fern Weis, Parent + Family Recovery Coach

As parents, our primary job is to prepare our children for life. Yet, so much emphasis is placed on academic preparation for college, often at the expense of nurturing the attitudes and skills that truly help them navigate life’s challenges.

While a solid education is important, preparing for life goes beyond textbooks and classrooms. It involves encouraging our kids to experience life firsthand.

We are all experiential learners; we learn best by doing. The lessons we learn most deeply are those we’ve lived through ourselves.

This holds true for our children as well. They need to experience the consequences of their actions, reflect on those experiences, learn from them, and apply those lessons moving forward.

This cycle— experience, reflect, learn, apply—is fundamental to growth and maturity.

The question is, are you ready to let them go? It’s a challenging thought, but it's also empowering.

Our children are often far more capable of achieving and handling life’s ups and downs than we might give them credit for. They have the resilience and resourcefulness to figure things out if we allow them the space to do so.

By stepping back, we give them an invaluable opportunity to build confidence, develop problem-solving skills, and understand their own strength. So, as you prepare them for the future, remember: 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮, 𝙨𝙚𝙩... 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙜𝙤!

Action Step:

We often address the challenges of letting go in my private FB group, Connected Moms and Teens. Join us HERE and get a head start on preparing your teen to launch.  

Fern Weis | Parent + Family Recovery Coach

Fern Weis is a certified life coach who learned that caring and good intentions are not enough in parenting. In fact, they are often the problem! Fern supports parents of teens and young adults who are going through difficult situations, including addiction recovery. She helps parents release guilt, end enabling and confidently prepare their children to thrive through life's challenges. Her articles are featured in Thrive Global, Medium, Motherly, The Teen Mentor, and Bergen County Moms.

Learn more about coaching and classes at www.fernweis.com. And then download your free guide, "Five Powerful Steps to Get Your Teen to Talk." For information on Family Recovery programs, visit www.familyrecoverypartners.com.