Let Them Fight Their Own Battles

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There is no doubt that contemporary parenting has become a minefield. With the peer pressure we all encounter as parents, parenting has become this huge competition, where each and every one of us wants to do the ‘right thing’, go by the ‘book’, and raise their children to be the smartest and most brilliant kids of all time. Of course, we all do it out of love, after all these little creatures are pieces of our hearts and souls. All we want to do is love them, protect them and give them the best we can for them to grow and become responsible, kind, and happy human beings. Yet what we tend to forget most of the time is that children are not our property, nor are they a trophy – they are these tiny human beings, who are trying to find their own way every single day.

They just embarked in this crazy journey and, with time, they are developing the skills needed to be able to sail freely and smoothly. We are there to GUIDE them and to make sure they acquire the necessary tools to build their personalities, characters and their own opinions.

The trick is to decide when to step in and when to back off, and this is where most parents go wrong. As parents we are automatically wired to make these little minds and hearts avoid pain, sadness and sorrow at all costs. We can’t stand the thought that our little one is going through a hard time, through pain and suffering, so we get up and do whatever we can to skip that part and make them think that they live in a flawless pink world, filled with rainbows and unicorns.

While this is not necessarily a bad thing, if done all the time, it robs the children of the chance to live their own life, to fight their own battles. Letting them live their life to the fullest, even at a young age, can be tremendously beneficial; it can teach them problem-solving skills, to be confident and to love themselves, which is the key to having happy kids.
By giving the child a voice, you are arming them with the tools needed to build confidence and self-esteem for the future. When he or she learns that no matter what, they are the master of their own destiny, you are giving them the chance to stand up for themselves and face the consequences of their choices. By allowing them to take responsibility for their own acts you are also teaching them that they are worthy of your trust, yet also accountable for their actions.

‘Letting your child go through their own heartbreaking experiences, pain and suffering might be the greatest gift you could ever offer them’

As a mother, this might be just about the most difficult thing on earth! Seeing your sweet little child in tears over something that you can fix in a second… Man it’s hard! You just have to remind yourself every day that you will not interfere and that you will let your child fight their own battles, but you will still show them that you love them no matter what and that you’re there for them.

Letting your child go through their own heartbreaking experiences, pain and suffering might be the greatest gift you could ever offer them.