“I just want my child to be happy.” I hear that from parents all the time. And I get it, we all want our children to be happy and fulfilled, it’s hard to see them upset. The problem is, when we focus solely on happiness, we’re actually setting our kids up for less happiness in the long run. Happiness is a feeling that can come and go, but resilience, the ability to bounce back from difficult times and handle challenges, is the key to true and lasting happiness. And in today’s world, children need resilience more than ever before.
Children today are facing more challenges and expectations than ever before. They are growing up in a fast-paced, constantly connected world where they are bombarded with information and expectations. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new set of challenges like social isolation, uncertainty and fear. These factors make it more important than ever for children to develop resilience.
As parents, we can guide and support our children through tough times. We can help them understand and express their emotions, teach them problem-solving skills, and model healthy coping mechanisms. This way, we are preparing them for the real world and setting them up for success and happiness in the long term.
We should also remember that our children are unique individuals with their own strengths and struggles, and by listening to teachers and other people who know our kids well, we can understand what they need help with and support them in the best way possible. That would leave them so much better off than if we just fix every situation for them and blame the other kid for every one of their conflicts, and then send them off into the world totally unprepared.
We can also help our children learn resilience by allowing them to experience frustration and disappointment, and by allowing them to make mistakes and learn from them. It’s through these experiences that children learn to handle difficult emotions and situations, and develop a sense of perspective. They learn that not everything will go their way, but that’s okay. And when they do experience happiness and success, it will be that much more meaningful to them.
Resilience is not just about bouncing back from a difficult situation, it’s also about learning from those experiences and using that learning to grow and improve. It’s a skill that can be developed and nurtured through guidance and support. As parents, we have the opportunity to be a part of our children’s growth and development, and by helping them build resilience, we are giving them the best chance for a happy and fulfilling life.
By Bin Goldman
