Dealing with failure is difficult for all of us, but as parents, we often find it even harder to watch kids struggle with it. During classes in Happy, Relaxed Parenting and at book signings for The “Perfect” Parent, I’m often asked some important questions about helping children understand and deal with failure. Here’s what I say:
Why is failure important for kids?
When children fail at things, they are faced most strongly with a single leading emotion: disappointment. This emotion points in two different directions:
Parenting is hard, but when we have each other and the truth, it’s a whole lot easier. That’s why Mamalode, dubbed “America’s best parenting magazine,” and Kids in the House make perfect partners—and we’re teaming up for an entire month on mamalode.com to bring you some of the best and most beautiful stories, with a sprinkling of expert advice, on the topics you care about. This month, we’ll LIVE&LEARN together.
My New Year's Parenting Resolution in less than 100 words.
I want to STOP SAYING, “GIVE ME A SECOND” every time one of my children asks for my attention. My response has become so ubiquitous that now when I ask my five year old to brush his teeth, he says, “Give me a second.” This year when one of them asks for my attention, before I react with my habitual quip, I want (at least some of the time, or at the very least once) to stop right then and give them what they need - my presence and my love.
