Updated: Aug. 5, 2016
Originally Published: Aug. 5, 2016
Dear Parents,
Allow me to introduce myself: I am a mother to a remarkable 20-year-old son. Over the past three years, my child has faced numerous challenges, including 18 hospital visits due to severe Crohn’s disease, three lifelong infections acquired during hospital stays, countless medications, IV treatments, a surgically removed colon, a colostomy bag, intestinal resection surgery, and most recently, a brain injury from a skateboarding mishap.
Is your attention piqued? Good—though I didn’t intend to capture it this way.
I understand that you believe all your actions serve your child’s best interests, but I want to share crucial insights I’ve gleaned along the way. I was compelled to make these changes, and I hope you will choose to consider them too.
Stop Over-Scheduling
Stop over-scheduling your child with a jam-packed agenda of tennis lessons, piano classes, karate, and other activities that seem to be the norm among your neighbors. Kids need the freedom to explore, create adventures, and engage in imaginative play. Their childhood years are fleeting; let them nurture their inherent curiosity at their own pace. They have time.
Let Go of College Preparations
Cease the relentless preparations for college beginning in sixth grade. In fact, let go of the notion of preparing them for college entirely. If higher education is in their future, they will find their way on their own, driven by their unique abilities and interests. They don’t need you crafting their college essays or pushing them into volunteering, taking AP courses, or accumulating experiences to build a stellar college application. They have time.
Allow Individual Journeys
Refrain from imposing your narrative about how your child should progress through life. Remember, your children are not mere extensions of you. Each has their own journey, filled with both triumphs and setbacks. Don’t shield them from failure; allow them to navigate their own paths, even if it means they face some scrapes along the way. They have time.
Don’t Rush into Adulthood
Do not rush them into adulthood. Let them savor the moments of their fading childhood. Soon enough, they will inherit the same concerns and responsibilities we bear. Why hasten that transition? They have time.
Seek Happiness and Love
Finally, we inhabit a world governed by arbitrary rules, timelines, and age milestones. Who established these guidelines? Our children should learn the most valuable life lesson: to seek happiness and love amidst life’s uncertainties. By slowing down and refraining from the actions I’ve mentioned, they will have the time to explore this vital lesson. They have time.
This article was originally published on Aug. 5, 2016.
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Summary
This article emphasizes the importance of allowing children the time and space to grow, learn, and enjoy their childhood without the pressures of over-scheduling or premature adult responsibilities. Parents are encouraged to step back and let their children explore at their own pace, highlighting the need for balance and patience in parenting.
Keyphrase: Parenting Advice for a Balanced Childhood
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