Happy July and Happy 4th of July!
I hope you’re all planning to spend time with family enjoying this summer weather and summer vibes.
Independence Day is upon us, so let’s talk about independence. One of the issues I lose sleep over is the need to teach our kids to be INDEPENDENT!
Not all parents see the need to foster independence in their kids…maybe because it feels so good to be needed. But what about 20 years from now? 30 years from now? Do you want your fully capable adult child living in your house, staying in pajamas all day, playing video games all night? Still “needing” you to support him/her? I think not!
So, what can we do today to ensure that doesn’t happen?
- Encourage your children to do as much for themselves as they can at every age.
- Give them opportunities to feel good about their own accomplishments.
- Don’t get in the way of their “I DID IT” moments.
- Be patient and even allow extra time so they can try hard things and fail at them several times before conquering them.
- Teach them patience with themselves and to push through the discomfort of failing…even to expect things to be hard, but to never give up!
- Insist that your teen gets a job by 16! The lessons are more valuable than you can imagine and prepares them for many aspects of life.
Your kids’ independence also allows you to have your own independence and freedoms! Plus, you get the bonus of having kids who feel good about themselves and their lives.
If you want more tips on how to grow your kids’ independence, join me at Coffee with Bette the first Tuesday of each month or call for a private session with me!
Happy Summer!!
With love,
Bette
