Imagine a succulent rainforest. Lots of tall trees with huge canopies, with fledgling plants at the base searching for a little light. They need just a small space for the light to reach them so they may grow. The ones that are deprived of light due to the canopy being too dense simply wither and die.

In a similar way, every child needs a space to grow and shine. As parents our role is simply to provide them with opportunities, give them a few reassuring nudges, but then get out of their way completely. The need to grow and shine is in built into the DNA of every human being. I find that this model is carried out extremely well in the West. Parents are very involved in the lives of their children and help them to find their “thing”. And once they find their thing, there is no effort required. They will naturally do the study, or the practice or whatever else is required to bring it to it’s ultimate potential.

In the eyes of a child, parents already seem larger than life and sometimes a little bit daunting. So come down to their level. Let them beat you in a game of chess. Let them run faster than you in a running race. Let them find their mojo and they will shine their very brightest.

But don’t get into the excessive mollycoddling! That’s another extreme. Encouragement has to be balanced with reality!

Be Well

In Health and Wellness