Parents Always Want What’s Best For Their Children, So They Tend To Push Them To Be The Best, But You Never Want Your Child To Believe That They Should Be Perfect At All Times
Parents always want what’s best for their children, so they tend to push them to be the best. They dream of their child becoming a piano prodigy, a star athlete, or an academic scholar.
However, that can send the message that you want your child to be perfect at all times. Pushing your kids to excel can put too much pressure on them and cause them to be unable to perform.
A desire to be perfect can have serious consequences on your child’s mental health. And eventually, they may even refuse to participate in something unless they know they can do it impeccably.
It’s essential that your child knows they don’t have to be the best in order for you to love them and to have a good life.
While big achievements are impressive and can instill a sense of pride, they are not the only things that make life precious.
What matters most is not striving to be the best, but living a meaningful life, enjoying the little things, and making worthwhile connections with people.
So rather than forcing your child to their limits, teach them to be gentler on themselves, to embrace making mistakes, and let them know they are loved no matter what.
One way you can do so is by shifting your mindset about success. The general idea of success that society has cultivated is to get straight-A’s and top scores, which will lead to acceptance into a stellar school.
From there, you must earn a college degree and obtain a swanky, high-paying corporate job upon graduation.
Maya Kruchancova – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual child
There is no one road to success. The path mentioned above may work for some, but it isn’t right for everyone. Be open to approaches that don’t fit the status quo.
Banish your visions of future success for your child and cherish them for who they really are, not just what they could be. Appreciate all their gifts; don’t place a higher emphasis on one skill and put down others.
If your child wants to be an artist when they grow up, refrain from immediately jumping in with all the reasons why you don’t think that would be a good career. Instead, hear them out and ask questions about the occupation.
Additionally, teach them to value struggle and improvement. Praise their personal bests, even when it’s not the best it can possibly be. It takes time to learn and grow, so when your child is struggling, that means they’re going places.
You can also remind them of specific instances where they have overcome challenges and even share stories of your own struggles so that they don’t feel alone when they’re experiencing moments of frustration.
Ultimately, the goal is for children to grow into happy, healthy adults. And as parents, sometimes you just have to trust that the path your kids take will lead them there, even if it’s not what you initially envisioned for them.
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