Life is Uncomfortable; Our Parenting Should Be Likewise

If life can’t promise comfort, our parenting can't either, says psychologist Kathryn Hecht. Here’s why she says letting kids struggle helps them build confidence in the future. Her full Ted Talk is available on https://www.ted.com/talks/kathryn_hecht_how_to_raise_kids_who_can_handle_hard_things

The analogy of the struggling butterfly emerging from its cocoon after its transformation is an important part of its growth process. The act of struggling to escape from its pod is so to move fluids from its engorged abdomen into its wings so it can spread them wide. Butterflies that were aided in being freed from its pod were shown to have difficulty flying afterwards, since its wings were malformed as a result.

Difficulty and some struggle is necessary in the process of maturity and developing our sense of humanity. Wanting the best for our children might make parents want to assist and shortcut the hard parts for them, but it will mean interrupting the learning process too.

MBA Junior's philosophy is to ensure students are not afraid to fail and to build some level of resilience. Their ideas will not always take off, and they will face rejection, but that's when we show them was it means to persevere despite difficulties.