Would you agree that our job as parents is to prepare our children for life? Unfortunately, a great deal of focus is on the academic preparation for college... and to a lesser extent on the attitudes and skills that will get them through the challenges. Preparation for life involves letting them, encouraging them, pushing them, to experience life.
The more we do for our children, the less capable they become and believe themselves to be. That’s not the outcome you want, is it? Free yourself and your kids from doing for them what they can do for themselves.
We are experiential learners: most of us learn best by doing. And it has more meaning for us when we do something ourselves. This also means that we learn more by experiencing the consequences of our actions. It's the same for our kids. Experience, reflect, learn, apply… and Repeat.
Are you ready to let them go? They are capable of accomplishing and coping with so much more than you may give them credit for.
Ready, set... let them go!
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.
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