We don’t want to overburden our children – but we do want to help them achieve their potential!
We want our children to reach their potential. But how do we know when to push and when to hold off? When to insist and when to let them choose?
In this radio show, April and Saren discuss what their parents did and what they’re doing with their children when it comes to expectations regarding behavior, household chores, academic performance, and extracurricular activities.
Show Notes:
Facebook conversation on what we should expect of our kids (lots of great comments and ideas!)
Should We Prioritize Excellence? (Saren’s post about whether we should push our kids in areas where they might have a talent)
Organizing for School Success Kit (helps you set your kids up for academic success)
This Radio Show is sponsored by:
Click below to receive your free 7-day trial and a free book plus use promo code “powerofmoms” to receive and EXTRA free book.
Click here for a PDF summary of the podcast.
Music from Creations by Michael R. Hicks.
Photo from photostock at freedigitalphotos.net
I really loved this one!! Thank you for all of your radio shows. I learn a lot!!
I just have to add an idea, as a continuation on the discussion on keeping kids involved in the work of the household and family, even when they have heavy academic/extracurricular demands. When I worked full-time many of my co-workers were incredibly talented, creative, really smart, just super high-achievers. I’m sure they exhibited these same exceptional/accelerated characteristics as children and teenagers. It was wonderful to work with them on many fronts, but some of habitually took exception to general workplace expectations. I think in all careers, there’s a certain amount of “housekeeping” and caring for mundane but necessary aspects of your job. There are also “rules” to follow that keep you on the side of having good workplace etiquette. Some of these really high-achievers behaved like they had a pass on some of these things.
As a parent now, sometimes I imagine how this might have played out in their homes as teenagers. “Sure, you’ve got a lot of homework. Don’t worry about the dishes. You’re excused, everyone else will take care of them.” “All of us need to work together in the yard, but you have track meets all day for the next 4 Saturdays? OK, don’t worry about it. You’ve got a pass.”
Just for the sake of their own futures, I just want my kids to feel like they’ve been taught that the “rules” are for everyone, even if you’re exceptional. You get to pitch in with everyone else and take care of the mundane, even if you’re exceptional. An attitude of “specialness” is something that can be really harmful to them in all sorts of life situations– job, friends, marriage…
This on-topic clip resonates with me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lfxYhtf8o4 “You are not special”, commencement address by David McCullough, Jr. @ Wellesley HS graduation.