Have you ever watched your child face disappointment? All kids deal with letdowns like not winning the toy they spent five dollars in quarters on or losing a game of Uno. But legitimate disappointments? Those cut deep. When a child works really hard and doesn’t get what she’s worked for or doesn’t make the team he’s spent months practicing for, it’s a heartbreaker for moms.
Abby’s story about her son mowing lawns and saving up money to buy a new iPad will remind you of all the times your kiddo has built up excitement and anticipation only to have it come crashing down. Fortunately, this story has a happy ending, but our podcast team digs into the ways moms can help their kids pick themselves up when things don’t turn out the way they hoped.
They also discuss setting expectations in order to manage disappointment and helping kids grow in awareness and understanding of what’s really important. After all, what some kids see as a letdown, like not getting presents on a sibling’s birthday, might actually be unrealistic expectations. As our kids mature, their disappointments will go from minor to major, but our task is to help them build their mental toughness.
What’s tempting for many moms is to try to make everything OK and protect kids from disappointment. But a mentally strong child isn’t one who’s been protected from trying moments. A mentally strong child has a loving mom nearby to talk through emotions, point out personal growth, and brush off the dirt to get him ready to try again.
Articles we mentioned:
5 Signs Your Kid Is Mentally Strong
Amy Morin’s book 13 Things Strong Kids Do: Think Big, Feel Good, Act Brave
Printables we think you’ll like:
When your children are legitimately disappointed in something, how do you help them deal with it without robbing them of the opportunity to grow? Tell us in the comments below.
