What Happens When Protecting Our Kids Teaches Them to Never Protect Themselves?
Let’s get real—doesn’t it seem like we’ve bubble-wrapped an entire generation? I mean, teaching your kid to take a punch is one thing, but what about teaching them to take a bullet? Welcome to modern parenthood, where “tough love” means letting your little ones figure out how to tie their shoes, zip a coat, and—oh yes—improvise battlefield triage when the world unleashes a hailstorm of lead their way . It’s survival of the fittest out there, and according to some people, helicopter parents hovering like SWAT teams aren’t doing their kids any favors. Should we really be stepping in every time life throws a curveball—or, say, a stray round—from the frozen yogurt bar? Or is the best way to raise resilient grown-ups by giving them a front-row seat to adversity (right before they duck behind it) ? Sometimes, I wonder if our obsession with shielding kids is making them forget how to stand on their own two feet—especially when one of those feet is bleeding profusely . Hey, if you’re brave enough to consider that maybe, just maybe, letting your kid learn to stanch their own bullet wound could build more character than a team sport… buckle up. It’s going to be a wild, laugh-so-you-don’t-cry parenting ride . LEARN MORE
Like every parent, I want my kids to be safe. I know that for my young daughter and son to grow and thrive, they need to feel secure in their surroundings. But with the way people coddle their children these days, I fear we’re raising a generation that won’t be able to handle life’s basic challenges. So when my kids face tough situations, like getting shot at, I try not to shelter them too much. I realize if I take a bullet for them, they may never learn to take bullets themselves.
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