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5 Ways Moms Discourage Their Kids

My friend Casey’s mom was the most encouraging voice. As we stood on the softball field, I could hear her cheering, “You’ve got this, girls!” And after our games, she’d always point out a good play Casey had made. I know my mom tried to encourage me too, but her methods didn’t land as smoothly. She’d say, “That last out was good, but you barely made that double play. Gotta work on a quicker release.”

Mom, we may think we’re encouraging our children, but it can actually feel like criticism to them. As you try to help your kids be their best, be sure you’re not doing one of these 5 things moms do that discourage their kids.

1. You offer too much help.

So your child wants to learn how to rollerblade. You wisely bundle him up in a helmet and pads and walk with him outside. At that point, he wants to try on his own. But you start shouting suggestions, walking along beside him and instinctively reach for him every time he falters. To you, this is just Safety 101. To him, it’s you showing that you don’t think he can do it on his own.

The same thing can happen when your child is working on a paper for school, trying a new hairstyle or learning a new skill. You see all of the ways to make their task easier and more efficient and you tell them all of your ideas. Unfortunately, your offer of help sends the message that you’d don’t believe in them. Your child will either say something like, “Mom!  I can do it myself!”  Or, they’ll give in to your suggestions, do it your way, and miss an opportunity to grow.

2. You compare them to others.

Sure, you’re just trying to motivate them by pointing out the successes or failures of others. “Josh, I noticed that Caden stands with his feet a little further apart when he’s batting, you should try it too.” Or, “Sophia, your sister had that project when she was in second grade. Let me find her old project for you to review.”

Again, your intentions are noble, but by comparing your child to somewhat else you’re telling them that they are not good enough.

3. You always expect more.

There is a time and place for everything. But, when your child tells you they got a B on a really hard test, it is not the time to say, “That’s great. Do you think you can make an A next time?”

Our children want us to praise them for their hard work and success, without having us always look for how to make their performance even better. So if your son tells you his coach thinks he’s really coming along with his football training, don’t jump in and suggest ways he can do even better. Let your child bask in the praise, minus any ideas for improvement you might have.

Let your child bask in the praise, minus any ideas for improvement you might have. Click To Tweet

4. You lose it.

When our kids are struggling to do a good job at something, it can be frustrating to watch. It can also try our patience. But, whatever you do, don’t go ballistic on them. If it’s just too much for you to watch and hold your tongue, step away until you can calm yourself.

5. You minimize their victories.

This can happen in a couple of ways. First, you just don’t realize what a big deal it is to them so you offer halfhearted comments. To prevent this from happening, really tune in. If your child is soft-spoken, you might need to really listen to see if something is important to him. If it is, lavish him with praise.

The other way moms minimize their children’s victories is by being too busy or distracted to fully join in the celebration. This one can be tough. You’ve just walked in the door and need to get dinner started when your daughter wants to show you her 10-page project with a million details. As much as you want to put her on hold, put dinner plans aside and give her the praise she’s craving.

How do you discourage your kids despite your best intentions?

ASK YOUR CHILD...

What do I do that encourages you the most? Do I do anything that makes you feel discouraged?

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