kidcredible

Other People’s Children

Wed, 06 May 2026 03:07:52 GMT

Other People’s Children

You’re out in public and you see kids acting out. Being rude, being mean, being disrespectful. What do you do?

If you’re like most people, you give a sideways glance and keep walking. We keep walking for a couple of reasons: We don’t want to “step on anyone’s toes”, “it’s not my business”, or we simply want to avoid the possible (or inevitable) conflict that could be created.

If you grew up around family, you know what it's like to be held accountable by adults who aren’t your parents. The Uncle who made you apologise, the Aunty that made you help with the dishes.

It wasn’t just family. Back when we were growing up -car phones were for rich people, a bag of lollies 5 cents and TV stations stopped broadcasting at 10pm – any card carrying parent could reprimand, scold or correct us. This meant your parents had the benefit of other adults’ support and back up. We grew up in a “village”.

For various reasons, as parents ourselves we don’t always have the benefit of living close to family and the support they bring. We’ve become more insular in our lives and in our parenting. That’s why I believe it is important to build a Tribe.

A Tribe of people who have got your back and who you trust. You know they are going to support you and your family. They’ll help reinforce your family code to your children.

When other adults back you up, your child does not see it as a sign of weakness in you. It shows them that you are not a dictator with archaic rules. The expectations you place on them to be kind and respectful are universal expectations. They learn that others are watching to hold them accountable. This is a lesson that will serve them well in school and in life. Most of all, when other adults refuse to tolerate misbehaviour kids are more likely to stop.

The temptation to be offended by someone stepping in and backing us up is great because as a society we’ve forgotten we need a village, a Tribe. Let’s flip the script. Let’s look at it as Support, Reinforcements, Unity to help us grow awesome Kiwi Kids!

Book’em Dano…

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 03:38:53 GMT

Why Reading Aloud to Your Kids Still Matters (At Every Age)

I love books. Walking into the Auckland Public Library downtown is like a trip to Disney Land! You see, we are built for stories. It’s why we like TV, Movies and even Xbox/Playstation Games are now designed around a story as it promotes engagement which means more dollars.

Reading to your child is a great way to bond and build relationship, and did you know you can do it right up into the Middle School years? No, I’m not delusional. Take a strategically selected book, offer the chance to stay up another 20mins or so and you’ll be surprised how eager they become.

Tips for Reading with your child:

Pre-Schoolers:

Read to them as often as humanly possible. It builds vocabulary and helps develop their imagination. Picture books are great. You can stop to ask questions about what they see. Does what they see line up with the direction of the story? This builds visual perception and intuition. Make it part of a bedtime routine and do it as when the opportunity presents itself.

Primary Age:

You’ll be tempted to ask them to read to you. Yes. They need to do that. They also need a break, they have been working at it all day at school. You can still use picture books. Choose ones that have a bit more text. This helps develop their listening comprehension. Graduate them up to books with few illustrations and more text. This is where their imaginations come out to play. Start to introduce the Classic’s, even the abridged versions. Most Classic stories get your child thinking about situations they wouldn’t encounter in real life, but emotions they would. Keep asking questions, but maybe save them till the end.

Middle School:

This is when gets cool. Full family discussions about what will happen, who the baddie really is or is what they did really wrong are great and give insight to your maturing child’s thinking. Find more complex story lines which foster critical thinking right at the time your child is embarking on the road to adulthood. Bring in the Classic’s in full form now.

You can get ideas of books for each stage by googling it, asking your child’s teacher, asking a librarian or PM me and I can give a list of books our family read.

Remember- Reading at its best isn’t a dialogue, it’s a conversation.

Empathy: The Secret Ingredient in Your Child's Growth Recipe

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 23:38:44 GMT

Hey there parents! Let's chat about something that's been on my mind lately. Remember that time your little one turned the supermarket into their personal playground? Yeah, we've all been there. But what if I told you that those chaotic moments could be the perfect recipe for helping your child grow in ways you never imagined?

The Empathy Lightbulb Moment: More Than Just Good Manners

Picture this: I'm in a massive Texas supermarket with my two, aged 7 and 9. They're bouncing off the walls, high on the sight of more cereals than they've ever seen in their lives. Meanwhile, I'm watching the faces of other shoppers, thinking, "Crikey, these people just want to grab their dinner and go home!"

That's when it hit me. I stopped my little monkeys in their tracks and said, "Hey, your actions are affecting other people." Simple, right? But let me tell you, it was like I'd flipped a switch in their brains.

Now, I'm no parenting guru, but I reckon I stumbled onto something pretty special that day. It turns out, this little lesson in empathy wasn't just about teaching good manners. Nope, it was tapping into something much bigger – something that touches every part of how our kids grow and learn.

The Fab Four of Growing Up: It's All Connected!

So, here's the deal. When we're raising our kids, we're juggling four big areas of their development:

Physical (you know, the bit that has them climbing everything in sight)
Cognitive (all that brain stuff)
Social (making friends and playing nice)
Emotional/Spiritual (feelings and the big questions)

Now, here's the kicker – empathy, that magical ability to understand how others feel, it's like the secret sauce that brings all these areas together. Let me break it down for you.

Moving and Grooving with Care

Remember those supermarket acrobatics? Teaching kids to be aware of others doesn't just stop them from knocking over the baked beans. It helps them:

Navigate spaces without bumping into everyone (a win for playground harmony!)
Play team sports without accidentally taking out their teammates
Dance like nobody's watching... while actually making sure nobody gets kicked

Brain Power: It's Not All About Times Tables

When your child puts themselves in someone else's shoes, they're flexing some serious mental muscles:

They're problem-solving: "How can I help my friend who's feeling sad?"
They're using their imagination: "I wonder how the postie feels delivering in the rain?"
They're remembering past experiences to understand others better

It's like a gym workout for their brain, but way more fun!

Friends, Romans, Countrymen... and Classmates

Let's face it, life's one big social experiment. Empathy is your child's VIP pass to:

Making friends faster than you can say "playdate"
Sorting out squabbles without you having to referee
Working in teams without it turning into World War III
Understanding why their little sister is upset about the blue cup (even if they think it's silly)

Feelings: Not Just for Hallmark Cards

Empathy is the heart of emotional growth. It helps our kids:

Get a handle on their own feelings (no more mystery meltdowns... well, fewer at least)
Feel connected to something bigger than themselves
Bounce back when life gets tough
Spread kindness like it's going out of style (which it never will)

Life Skills: Empathy's Got Your Back

In this wild world we're sending our kids into, they need some serious skills. Good news – empathy's got them covered:

Teamwork makes the dream work : Empathetic kids are collaboration superstars.
Talking the talk : Understanding others makes for ace communicators.
Thinking outside the box : Seeing different perspectives? Hello, critical thinking!
Creativity central : Walking in someone else's shoes sparks some pretty cool ideas.

Let's Get Hands-On: Empathy in Action

Now, I know what you're thinking. "This all sounds great, but how do I actually do this?" Don't worry, I've got some ideas that are more fun than a barrel of monkeys:

Play pretend : Turn your living room into a bustling café or a busy hospital. Watch how quickly they start thinking about others!
Community helpers : Get involved in local projects. Nothing beats seeing those little faces light up when they realise they've made a difference.
Emotion detectives : Next time you're out and about, play a game of "spot the feeling." It's like I Spy, but for emotions!
Art attack : Get creative together, but here's the twist – they have to include everyone's ideas. Compromise has never been so colourful!
Nature nurturers : Take a walk and imagine how trees or animals might be feeling. It's a great way to connect empathy with the world around us.

Empathy Boosters: Resources at Your Fingertips

If you're keen to dive deeper (and I hope you are!), I've got some goodies up my sleeve:

Empathy Activity Packs : Downloadable fun that'll keep the kids entertained and growing.
Growth Tracker : An online tool to see how your little one's progressing. It's like a baby book, but cooler.
Teacher's Empathy Toolkit : For all you amazing educators out there – this one's for you!
Family Empathy Challenge : 30 days of bringing the family closer. Warning: may result in excessive hugging.
Real Kids, Real Empathy : A video series showing empathy in action. It's like reality TV, but actually good for you!

The Big Picture: Changing the World, One Empathetic Kid at a Time

Here's the thing – when we raise kids who really get empathy, we're not just making our lives easier (though that's a nice bonus). We're raising little world-changers. These kids grow up to be adults who:

Respect others' personal space (goodbye, close talkers!)
Come up with solutions that work for everyone
Build relationships that could outlast a zombie apocalypse
Have the emotional smarts to weather any storm

So, the next time your kid turns the grocery store into a circus, take a deep breath. Remember, it's not just about keeping the peace – it's about piecing together the building blocks of a pretty amazing human being.

By focusing on empathy, we're not just raising good kids. We're nurturing the kind of people who'll make the world a little bit better, one understanding smile at a time. And let's be honest, couldn't we all use a bit more of that?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go referee a debate over who gets the last biscuit. Wish me luck – I'm going in with empathy as my secret weapon!

Building Resilience in Your Child: A Comprehensive Guide for Modern Parents

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:12:25 GMT

Seven Research-Backed Strategies to Nurture Emotional Strength and Adaptability in the Next Generation

In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, resilience has become an essential life skill for children to develop. As parents, we play a crucial role in fostering this ability to bounce back from adversity and thrive in the face of challenges. This article explores seven key strategies for investing in your child's resilience, backed by modern research and practical insights.

1. Teach Them Life Isn't Always Fair

One of the fundamental lessons in building resilience is helping children understand that life isn't always fair. This realization, while potentially disheartening at first, is crucial for developing a realistic worldview and the ability to cope with disappointments.

Research conducted by Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg , a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, emphasizes the importance of this lesson. In his book "Building Resilience in Children and Teens," Dr. Ginsburg explains that children who understand life's inherent unfairness are better equipped to handle setbacks and persevere through challenges.

As parents, sharing personal stories of unfairness and how we overcame them can be incredibly powerful. These narratives provide real-life examples that children can relate to and learn from. For instance, you might share a story about not getting a job you really wanted despite being well-qualified, and how you used that experience to improve your skills and eventually land an even better position.

2. Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities

Mistakes are an inevitable part of life, and teaching children to view them as opportunities for growth rather than failures is crucial for building resilience. [Dr. Carol Dweck's research on growth mindset](https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/) provides valuable insights into this approach.

In her seminal work, "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success," Dweck demonstrates that individuals who view challenges and mistakes as opportunities to learn and improve (a growth mindset) are more resilient and successful than those who see abilities as fixed traits (a fixed mindset).

Encourage your children to reflect on their mistakes by asking questions like, "What did you learn from this experience?" or "How might you approach this differently next time?" This approach helps children develop problem-solving skills and fosters a sense of agency in their learning process.

3. Build Strong Emotional Connections and Unpack Experiences

Emotional intelligence is a cornerstone of resilience. [Dr. John Gottman's research](https://www.gottman.com/blog/emotion-coaching-the-heart-of-parenting/), as outlined in his book "Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child," highlights the importance of emotion coaching in developing resilience.

Building strong emotional connections with your children involves being present, actively listening, and helping them navigate their feelings. When children face challenges or setbacks, take the time to unpack the experience with them. This process helps ensure they don't draw incorrect conclusions or internalize negative beliefs about themselves.

For example, if your child struggles with a math test, instead of simply consoling them, engage in a conversation about their feelings, the preparation process, and what they might do differently next time. This approach helps children develop emotional awareness and problem-solving skills simultaneously.

4. Encourage Healthy Risk-Taking

Taking risks is an essential part of growth and development. However, it's crucial to encourage healthy, age-appropriate risks that allow children to stretch their abilities while maintaining safety.

[Dr. Margie Warrell](https://margiewarrell.com/brave/), author of "Brave: 50 Everyday Acts of Courage to Thrive in Work, Love and Life," emphasizes that taking risks builds confidence and resilience. She suggests that parents should create a supportive environment where children feel safe to try new things and potentially fail.

Examples of healthy risk-taking might include trying out for a sports team, performing in a school play, or initiating a conversation with a new classmate. By encouraging these experiences, we help children develop courage, self-confidence, and the ability to handle both success and disappointment.

5. Resist the Urge to Fix Everything

As parents, our instinct is often to protect our children from discomfort and solve their problems for them. However, constantly stepping in to "fix" things can undermine a child's ability to develop resilience and problem-solving skills.

[Dr. Jessica Lahey](https://www.jessicalahey.com/the-gift-of-failure), author of "The Gift of Failure," argues that allowing children to experience and work through challenges is crucial for their development. Instead of immediately offering solutions, ask questions that guide your child towards finding their own answers.

For instance, if your child is struggling with a friendship issue, you might ask, "What do you think you could do to improve the situation?" or "How have you handled similar problems in the past?" This approach empowers children to develop their own problem-solving strategies and builds confidence in their ability to handle difficult situations.

6. Cultivate Gratitude and Positivity

Developing a positive outlook and the ability to find good even in challenging situations is a key aspect of resilience. [Research by Dr. Robert Emmons](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/robert_emmons), a leading expert on gratitude, shows that practicing gratitude can significantly improve mental health and resilience.

Encourage your children to focus on the positive aspects of their lives through daily gratitude practices. This could involve keeping a gratitude journal, sharing three good things that happened during dinner conversations, or discussing what they're thankful for during car rides.

A [study published in the Journal of School Psychology](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022440508000071) found that students who practiced gratitude showed increased life satisfaction and decreased negative emotions. By helping children develop this habit, we equip them with a powerful tool for maintaining a positive outlook in the face of adversity.

7. Model Resilience in Your Own Life

Children learn a great deal by observing and imitating their parents. Therefore, one of the most effective ways to teach resilience is to model it in your own life.

[Dr. Ann Masten](https://www.cehd.umn.edu/icd/people/faculty/masten/), a pioneer in resilience research, emphasizes the importance of parental modeling in her book "Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development." She argues that children who observe their parents facing challenges with a positive attitude and problem-solving approach are more likely to develop these skills themselves.

Share your own experiences of overcoming obstacles with your children. Discuss the strategies you use to cope with stress and disappointment. Let them see you persevere through difficult tasks and maintain a positive attitude in the face of setbacks.

For example, if you're learning a new skill for work, involve your children in the process. Share your progress, discuss the challenges you face, and demonstrate how you overcome them. This not only teaches resilience but also shows that learning and growth are lifelong processes.

Conclusion

Investing in your child's resilience is one of the most valuable gifts you can give them. By implementing these seven strategies – teaching life's inherent unfairness, embracing mistakes, building strong emotional connections, encouraging healthy risk-taking, resisting the urge to fix everything, cultivating gratitude, and modeling resilience yourself – you can help your child develop the skills they need to navigate life's challenges successfully.

Remember that building resilience is an ongoing process that requires patience, consistency, and a willingness to let your child experience and learn from life's ups and downs. By providing a supportive environment and the tools to develop resilience, you're setting your child up for success not just in childhood, but throughout their entire life.

As parents, our goal should be to raise children who are not only able to withstand life's inevitable challenges but who can also thrive and grow stronger because of them. By investing in your child's resilience today, you're helping to shape a more confident, capable, and emotionally intelligent adult of tomorrow.this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Empathy: The Cornerstone of Holistic Child Development

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 18:47:36 GMT

Empathy: The Hidden Key to Unlocking Your Child's Full Potential

In the bustling aisles of a Texas supermarket, a Kiwi mum stumbled upon a profound truth about parenting and child development. As her excited children bounced around like "wild monkeys," she uttered a simple yet powerful statement: "Your actions are affecting other people." Little did she know, this impromptu lesson in empathy would illuminate the path to holistic child development and showcase the interconnectedness of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth.

The Four Pillars of Child Development: A Holistic Approach

At the heart of effective child development lies a comprehensive approach that addresses four crucial pillars:

Physical
Cognitive
Social
Emotional/Spiritual

These pillars don't exist in isolation; they're intricately connected, with empathy serving as a thread that weaves them all together. Let's explore how empathy supports each pillar and contributes to the development of essential life skills.

Physical Development: Moving with Mindfulness

While empathy might not seem directly related to physical development, it plays a crucial role in how children interact with their environment and others in physical spaces. Remember our supermarket scenario? The children's physical exuberance was affecting those around them. By learning to be empathetic, children become more aware of their bodies in relation to others, leading to:

Improved spatial awareness
Better coordination in group activities
Safer play environments
More inclusive physical games and sports

Cognitive Development: Thinking Beyond Oneself

Empathy is a cognitive skill that requires complex thought processes. When children practice empathy, they're exercising crucial cognitive muscles:

Perspective-taking: Imagining how others might feel
Problem-solving: Finding ways to help or accommodate others
Abstract thinking: Understanding emotions and motivations
Memory: Recalling past experiences to relate to others

By encouraging empathy, we're not just fostering emotional intelligence; we're boosting overall cognitive development.

Social Development: Building Bridges, Not Walls

The social benefits of empathy are perhaps the most obvious. Empathetic children are better equipped to:

Form meaningful friendships
Resolve conflicts peacefully
Work effectively in teams
Understand and respect diverse perspectives

Our supermarket lesson is a perfect example of how empathy enhances social awareness and promotes harmonious interactions.

Emotional/Spiritual Development: Nurturing Inner Growth

Empathy is at the core of emotional and spiritual development. It helps children:

Recognize and manage their own emotions
Develop a sense of purpose and connection to others
Build resilience by understanding shared human experiences
Cultivate compassion and kindness

By teaching children to consider others' feelings, we're helping them develop a rich inner life and a strong moral compass.

Essential Skills for the 21st Century: Empathy as the Foundation

In today's rapidly changing world, certain skills are crucial for success. Empathy underpins many of these essential abilities:

Collaboration: Empathetic children work better in teams, understanding and valuing diverse contributions.
Communication: By considering others' perspectives, children become more effective communicators.
Critical Thinking: Empathy encourages children to question assumptions and consider multiple viewpoints.
Creativity: Understanding others' needs and experiences can spark innovative solutions and ideas.

Hands-On Learning: Bringing Empathy to Life

While theoretical understanding is important, true empathy is best developed through hands-on, experiential learning. Here are some activities that promote empathy while engaging all four developmental pillars:

Role-Playing Games: Encourage children to act out scenarios from different perspectives, engaging their physical, cognitive, and social skills.
Community Service Projects: Participate in age-appropriate volunteer activities, allowing children to see the direct impact of their empathetic actions.
Emotion Scavenger Hunt: In public spaces, ask children to quietly observe and identify different emotions in people around them, fostering cognitive and social awareness.
Collaborative Art Projects: Work on group art pieces where children must consider and incorporate others' ideas, promoting creativity and empathy.
Nature Empathy Walks: Take walks in nature, encouraging children to imagine how animals and plants might "feel" in different situations, bridging emotional and spiritual connection with the environment.

Resources for Empathy-Based Holistic Development

To support parents and educators in this empathy-centered approach to holistic development, consider offering:

Empathy-Building Activity Packs: Downloadable resources with games and exercises that target all four developmental pillars.
Holistic Development Tracker: An online tool for parents to monitor their child's progress across all four pillars, with empathy milestones included.
Educator's Guide to Empathy Integration: A comprehensive guide showing how to incorporate empathy-building into various subjects and activities.
Family Empathy Challenge: A 30-day program with daily activities designed to boost empathy and strengthen family bonds.
Empathy in Action Video Series: Short, engaging videos showcasing real-life examples of children using empathy to navigate physical, cognitive, social, and emotional challenges.

The Ripple Effect: Empathy as a Catalyst for Change

By nurturing empathy within the framework of holistic development, we're not just raising well-rounded individuals; we're cultivating a generation of changemakers. Empathetic children grow into adults who are:

Physically aware and respectful of others' space and needs
Cognitively flexible and open to diverse ideas
Socially adept and able to build strong, positive relationships
Emotionally intelligent and spiritually grounded

These qualities form the bedrock of a more compassionate, innovative, and cooperative society.

So, the next time you find yourself in a chaotic situation like our Kiwi mum in the Texas supermarket, remember: you're not just teaching a lesson in behaviour. You're laying the foundation for your child's holistic development and contributing to a more empathetic world.

By embracing this approach, we can help our children navigate the complexities of the modern world with confidence, compassion, and a deep understanding of their place within it. After all, in the tapestry of child development, empathy isn't just a single thread – it's the very fabric that holds everything together.

Becoming Mum

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 08:23:51 GMT

The day I found out I was pregnant filled me with equal parts of joy and fear. I was living 15,000kms away from my momma and even though I had the best mother-in-law in the world, I wanted my momma close so I could ask her questions and get her advice (even if I did ignore it 90% of the time). But these were the days before email, FB, IG and Twitter.

There is something about mums. Their place in our hearts can never be replaced or filled. Looking back I giggle at memories of my momma & the things she would say to us kids. You have to imagine this is Texas. She was a young mum. And let’s face it, there was four of us & we were bad kids!

We knew we were safe, we weren’t abused by her, but these phrases got the desired effect, our compliance. Here’s a little of Momma Joyce’s pearls to make you smile:

“I brought you into this world, I’ll take you out and make another one just like you.”

“Keep talking and you’ll leave with a limp.”

“I’m gonna break your arm off and beat you with it.”

Or my all-time favourite used on us when were teens and would say to her ‘How you gonna stop me?’, she would just say “Go ahead. I’ll tell you what, you got sleep sometime, and when you do, I’ll be there.”

She used her quick wit to get us to listen. We knew she would never hurt us. We knew that she loved us, and she would be there for us when we needed her. Right up until the day she died, she was trying to help us learn to live without her.

The person I am today is the sum of my life experiences and my ability & desire to learn from those experiences. Learning from my momma and my mother-in-law, trying to be the best mum I can, and making my own mistakes along the way. My daughter will do the same, I imagine. Because that’s what mums do. We leave a legacy strength, hope and laughter for our families. Here’s to us! Mum’s of all kinds, We Rock!

All Grown Up

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 08:08:10 GMT

My son turned 18. Apparently, he is now a man. He voted in our last election and in some countries around the world, he could be drafted into mandatory military service.

Of course, I look him and wonder where has the time gone? And I wonder what kind of man will he be? Did I get enough things right when he was growing up?

If I’m honest, I have moments when I look at him and shake my head wondering whose child is this? I even had a moment recently when he brought up a topic to which my only response to him was, “In what version of reality or alternate universe did you think that was ok?”

But then I have those moments when I’m so proud of who he is, the choices he is making and the things he is accomplishing. At 17 he started his own online business and was CEO of YES Company Kiwi Games who created ECO-Ways, a card game designed to teach children the positive impacts, environmentally and financially of eco-friendly living.

He has lots to learn, but he is committed to reaching his goals. He’s carving out his own path. And that’s what they are supposed to do, aye? He’s grown and I must grow with him. I know how to raise a boy, but now I have young man on my hands. Some people would say, my job is done. But really, it’s just another transition.

The foundation laid in the 18 years before now is the platform upon which our relationship now stands. The input I have into his life now, started years earlier. Reading to him, listening to him, playing with him and laughing with him, answering the same question 15 bazillion times. Talking to him about how a man integrity acts from an early age and doing my best to demonstrate the qualities of generosity, kindness, loyalty, love and respect.

It can be hard to relate to our young adult children, their generation is so different from ours. But one thing I know for sure, no one looks back and regrets spending time with their kids, regardless of their age.

Back to School

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 08:16:55 GMT

Doesn’t the smell of the stationary bring back memories? School- Some look forward to it with eager anticipation and expectation. Others dread the day because they will miss being together. That’s just mum and dad I’m talking about.

Shortly after each new year comes the start of the new school year. It is full of hope and possibility. It is a milestone each time because regardless of the age of our children, they grow up a little more during the year. Well, we hope they do anyways.

What’s not so obvious is how we as parents need to grow with them. You can’t parent a 10 year old the same way you parent a 6 year old. Nor can you expect the same level of maturity or responsibility from a 12 year old that you would a 17 year old. I know. I tried.

None of this is rocket science. But if we are honest, it sure is a lot easier to say than to put into practice. Especially the ‘letting go’ part of growing up. Again, I’m just talking about the mums and dads here. Okay, maybe mostly myself.

Letting go can sometimes come with a sensation best described as agonising terror. Out of love we cling even tighter. Bad move. I know. I tried.

What if they forget their lunch? What if they don’t have their reading book? What if the loose their shoes for the 3 ^rd time in 3 weeks? What if their friend isn’t their class? What if they don’t like their teacher? You know what I’m talking about.

I can tell you what my momma said, “Tough.” There would have been a few colourful words in there as well.

Some life lessons can only be taught by life. Experience. We know this to be true yet when it comes to our children we suffer temporary amnesia.

Yeah, it sucks sitting on the side lines during the “growing pains’ our children are experiencing. I know. I’ve done it and am doing it. Of course talk to your kids, encourage, advise. But we can stop rescuing from consequences and other life lessons.

I encourage you to let go. For your own good as well as your child’s. Let them learn life lessons when the consequences are relatively minor. Building resilience and responsibility in our kids is vital if they are going to be productive contributing adults. It might be you’re the ‘mean mom’. That’s ok. Been there too. But if we all do it - you’re not alone.