I don't cut crusts off toast at breakfast time. If my kids don't want to eat the crust, they eat around it. I'm not lazy, I'm teaching life skills . It's a valuable lesson that you have to eat around the bits you don't like. My often passive parenting isn't me checking out; I'm intentionally stepping back so my kids have space to grow and work it out for themselves.
My daughter is 19 and I still feel like time went too fast. It's her last year at home before she moves away and starts her own adult life. Letting go of her while staying connected is my new challenge. I make her 'practice' being an adult. It's made me realise the importance of supporting our teens to "practice" adulthood. Even something as simple as ringing up the doctor to book an appointment can be a challenge for some young people. As adults, we take these things for granted. We know the process of booking an appointment and what the receptionist wants us to tell them, but our teens don't. And Gen Z seems particularly allergic to talking on the phone.
During back-to-school month, take time to strengthen these eight wisdom life skills that are never taught in school. These essential traits are based on my wisdom study and Common Wisdom book findings, and they can help you increase your joy, happiness, and success. While education is important and necessary, having intelligence is not the same as having wisdom. Think about the people you know who are highly intelligent and well accomplished: Do they all make good decisions, and do they live meaningful lives?
If we had something going on on Mondays, she'd say: 'No, that's when we go to Cornell,' said Beverly Dodici, Emma's mother. Having neurotypical peers who made her feel like she was a part of the community - it really built her confidence and self-esteem.
