In the last post, we talked about how parents fail to set limits and how this is where some of us go wrong. Thanks for the readers who commented on that post and highlighted the fact that it is not really the setting of limits that becomes a problem. Instead, it is the ENFORCING of these limits which is very important.
Another point that was raised in the article by Nancy Shute is that some parents are overprotective. According to her:
Teachers, coaches, and psychotherapists alike have noticed that parents today can’t stand to see their children struggle or suffer a setback. So they’re stepping in to micromanage everything from playground quarrels to baseball team positions to grades.
I don’t know too many people who are this overprotective of their children but I can name one or two. And yes, the results are disastrous. Children who get used to having their parents do everything for them grow up not knowing how to handle life. It is as simple as that!
If there is one thing that I believe we should teach our children, it is equipping them with the skills to handle whatever life throws at them. There is no going around the fact that they will have setbacks but we will not always be there for them. They have to learn that they have it in themselves to handle whatever they will eventually face. Otherwise, they will be weak and spineless adults. Now who would want that for their children?
Photo courtesy of PinkBelt
