We all want our kids to thrive.
It’s instinctual.
And as they grow up from young cubs to adults life is going to test them.
It’s going to knock them down and not be very kind doing so.
When this happens the best thing you can do isn’t to cushion the fall.
It’s to teach them how to get back up, stronger and more resilient than before.
Because here’s the truth most parents don’t want to admit:
Protecting them from every hardship won’t help them…it’ll hurt them.
As parents, it’s in our DNA to protect our kids.
But shielding them from every bump in the road does more harm than good.
The best way to prepare them for the real world is to let them experience life’s hits—failures, setbacks, and all—and guide them as they grow stronger from it.
I share this with you because life isn’t fair and certainly doesn’t go easy on anyone.
When it knocks them down (and it will) you want to know your kids have the tools to stand back up.
That means stepping back and letting them face adversity head-on.
Take my son, Andrew, for example. He’s a teenager with big ideas and, like most teens, the occasional bonehead decision.
A while back, He borrowed money from me to invest in cryptocurrency. Long story short, it didn’t go well, and he lost it all.
I could’ve stepped in and said, “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”
But what lesson would that teach him?
That Dad will always bail him out?
Life doesn’t work that way.
Instead, I let him feel the sting of that loss and work out a repayment plan with me.
It was tough to watch, but it was also the best thing for him.
Because now, he understands the value of money, the importance of research, and the sting of reckless decisions. Those are lessons he’ll carry for life.
Yes, it hurts to see your child struggle.
But it’ll hurt a hell of a lot more watching them grow up without the grit to handle real challenges.
And that grit is the greatest gift you can give them.
Talk soon,
Bedros Keuilian
P.S. Want to take your son’s resilience to the next level? Check out the Squire Program.
It’s a one-day experience designed to push both father and son to grow mentally, physically, and emotionally. Spots fill up fast, so don’t wait.