The Importance of Failure

I love this!! Parents often feel guilty saying no to their children or offering help in times of need. However, the most important skill to cultivate is teaching them independence and resilience in times of struggle. You don’t need to worry about sending them a message of love by helping them. To love them is to allow them to struggle. In the same regard as the dangers of parents sending the wrong message to their children, I feel equally the same about what our school system teaches our children about getting a purple ribbon for just showing up at a sporting event. I don’t feel this is right. You don’t get a ribbon for putting on your clothes, getting on a bus, or attending school. It is a privilege to be able to do that. We don’t need to thank and high-five our children for showing up. Kids who train and attempt a sport deserve some acknowledgement, but only those that kick ass at the sport should be given a ribbon. Period.