Fantastic piece Chris! Packed full of incredibly useful advice that I'll be incorporating in my parenting.
My favourites:
• "School is just a snapshot of our lives" - Yes! When you're a kid, it feels like (and we're often taught to believe that) school is the be all and end all of everything. But it's just a phase. There's a whole world beyond school, and we need to start preparing kids for it.
• "Everyone is dealing with something" - I also wish I'd learnt this sooner. Everyone we meet has their own story, their own history, their own struggles, just like we do. It's so important to teach our kids to be kind to others and support the people they care about.
• "Failure is a normal part of life" - Absolutely! AND it doesn't mean you're not worthy. Failure does not define our value as a person. We are more than our achievements and successes.
• "Share stories of role models who've failed" - I've noticed my kids are more able to bounce back from setbacks when I share a story of how I personally struggled with the same thing they are now when I was growing up. Sometimes they've even checked with my Mum or sister to see if what I'm telling them really happened! It's led to some comical situations at times when I may have stretched the truth just a little haha. Anyway, I guess it helps them feel less alone in their experience, and shows them that if people they look up to can do it, maybe they can too.
I could keep going but I'll stop! Thank you for sharing this Chris. And congratulations on completing your first draft!!
Ah thank you so much Ruhie! I love all these examples you've shared. I had to stop at 7 lessons but in truth there are so many more kids can learn. Half the battle is just starting the conversation and helping them see things from another perspective.
Oh how I wish I’d learned/been taught #3 as a kid. I wouldn’t have grown up to be an almost 40-year old trying to talk myself down and build myself up every time I made a mistake.
I literally just did #4 too (something I also learned later in life). I have a letter I need to write and I keep putting it off so I reminded myself that even if I write two sentences tonight, that’s progress. These are all such great lessons for kids (and even for adults)!
This is an awesome list of support tools for young adults. When we’re in junior high and high school, it feels as if the way things are in that moment is the way things will always be. And that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is the kind of article that should be mandatory for the parents of all those kiddos entering their teens. It would surely help them.
I hope you put together a whole book (even if it’s a small one) on how to survive being a teen.
Excellent thoughts, Chris. I hope every young (and old) person who reads this pays attention!
Thanks John!
Fantastic piece Chris! Packed full of incredibly useful advice that I'll be incorporating in my parenting.
My favourites:
• "School is just a snapshot of our lives" - Yes! When you're a kid, it feels like (and we're often taught to believe that) school is the be all and end all of everything. But it's just a phase. There's a whole world beyond school, and we need to start preparing kids for it.
• "Everyone is dealing with something" - I also wish I'd learnt this sooner. Everyone we meet has their own story, their own history, their own struggles, just like we do. It's so important to teach our kids to be kind to others and support the people they care about.
• "Failure is a normal part of life" - Absolutely! AND it doesn't mean you're not worthy. Failure does not define our value as a person. We are more than our achievements and successes.
• "Share stories of role models who've failed" - I've noticed my kids are more able to bounce back from setbacks when I share a story of how I personally struggled with the same thing they are now when I was growing up. Sometimes they've even checked with my Mum or sister to see if what I'm telling them really happened! It's led to some comical situations at times when I may have stretched the truth just a little haha. Anyway, I guess it helps them feel less alone in their experience, and shows them that if people they look up to can do it, maybe they can too.
I could keep going but I'll stop! Thank you for sharing this Chris. And congratulations on completing your first draft!!
Ah thank you so much Ruhie! I love all these examples you've shared. I had to stop at 7 lessons but in truth there are so many more kids can learn. Half the battle is just starting the conversation and helping them see things from another perspective.
Oh how I wish I’d learned/been taught #3 as a kid. I wouldn’t have grown up to be an almost 40-year old trying to talk myself down and build myself up every time I made a mistake.
I literally just did #4 too (something I also learned later in life). I have a letter I need to write and I keep putting it off so I reminded myself that even if I write two sentences tonight, that’s progress. These are all such great lessons for kids (and even for adults)!
#4 is something I need to get better at too! And to be honest, I need to do better with all the steps.
This is an awesome list of support tools for young adults. When we’re in junior high and high school, it feels as if the way things are in that moment is the way things will always be. And that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is the kind of article that should be mandatory for the parents of all those kiddos entering their teens. It would surely help them.
I hope you put together a whole book (even if it’s a small one) on how to survive being a teen.
Thanks Teyani! Maybe that can be my next book :)
Chris! This was so wonderful. I needed these reminders too! 🥹 currently trying really hard to maintain a meditation practice.
Aw, thank you! 😀
Meditation is SO HARD. My mind is always like "Oh, you're trying to relax? Great. Let's review all your worst moments."
Same! 😭 or I all of a sudden remember things I just HAVE to do.
That too! If it's not my worst moments it's
Moment of inspiration
Moment of inspiration
Moment of inspiration
Moment of inspiration
There are so many good ideas here for parents and teens! Thanks for sharing this. I especially appreciated what you said about the value of failure.
Thank you! Reading your post about your daughter's journey to college inspired me to write this. 😀
@Chris Anselmo that’s aMAZing!!!!!
The topic was on my list but this brought it to the front 😀