We just watched the movie Croods. Where the patriarch of the prehistoric cave family, what's his family to be afraid of anything new. He doesn't understand or like his daghter's need to discover something new. He wants them to be afraid so he can protect them.
Does that sound familiar?
No?
Think again!
You might not be doing it in as many words, but do you hover over your child at a public playground?
Do you never leave your child at somebody elses's house for a play date by him or herself?
Do you not let your child play in your front or back yard without you being attached to him or her?
If you can answer yes to any of these questions, you are teaching your child to never not be afraid. Because, subconsciously, you are passing the message to your child that they can never be ok alone. Which is so dichotomous to what we want them to be - independent, strong, confident individuals who have the building blocks to become successful adults.
I don't think I may saying leave your kid in the middle of the woods, ala Hansel & Gretel, but I am saying we need to stop being another appendage for our child(ren).
Let them walk a couple blocks by themselves.,
Let them scrape their knees at the playground.
Let them shed a tear because of that scrape.
Let them grow up like they are supposed to.
While I hang out behind a tree, hidden from Oliver so he can be confident, without knowing his mother's a weak as ;-)
don't teach your kids to never not be afraid!
Does that sound familiar?
No?
Think again!
You might not be doing it in as many words, but do you hover over your child at a public playground?
Do you never leave your child at somebody elses's house for a play date by him or herself?
Do you not let your child play in your front or back yard without you being attached to him or her?
If you can answer yes to any of these questions, you are teaching your child to never not be afraid. Because, subconsciously, you are passing the message to your child that they can never be ok alone. Which is so dichotomous to what we want them to be - independent, strong, confident individuals who have the building blocks to become successful adults.
I don't think I may saying leave your kid in the middle of the woods, ala Hansel & Gretel, but I am saying we need to stop being another appendage for our child(ren).
Let them walk a couple blocks by themselves.,
Let them scrape their knees at the playground.
Let them shed a tear because of that scrape.
Let them grow up like they are supposed to.
While I hang out behind a tree, hidden from Oliver so he can be confident, without knowing his mother's a weak as ;-)
don't teach your kids to never not be afraid!
