As a parent, in your mind, you are preparing your kids for every walk of life they are set to take. From karate to keyboard, from algebra to archery classes, you ensure you are giving them the best of every world there is. But do we work enough on the critical life skills? That’s a whole different conversation for a later day, but in today’s newsletter I wanted to talk about raising confidence in girls and why that matters.
As most of you would know, I was born as one among 4 girls to a working couple in Mumbai who taught me every single thing I know today. From teaching me how to handle success, to learning to get up when I fail gloriously, to applauding others’ achievements and celebrating theirs as my own, my parents taught me every step along the way. And today when I don the mother’s hat to a tween and a teen, I realise what must have gone in their minds as we were busy growing up. Parenting is not just about the trials and tribulations of a new parent. It is not just discussing the poop colour and the vaccination schedules, but to assess and take stock of what we are doing, at every stage of our parenting journey.
This is what led me to start the Kidsstoppress Community. And then the Kidsstoppress Podcast where I talk about talking that moms can relate to. Without being judged. Without feeling alienated. ‘Coz let’s admit it. There are so many days we falter and how! Can’t tell you the number of times, I have put two of the same things in my children’s dabba leaving them confused. And forgetting library returns. Or assignment submission dates. My children have forgiven me for those crazy misses and frankly I have forgiven myself too! Part of the game!
But of late with all that’s going on in the world, and to watch our offspring grow their little wings too quickly, I often ask myself if I am doing it right in raising children who are confident; children who are clear about what they are doing. Like Andre Agassi told me in an interview, the main aim of parenting is to raise children to not need you! Read that again, and let it hit you hard! I have marvelled at this statement and work towards it every waking minute of my life as a parent!
What can we do, as millennial parents, in upping our children’s confidence quotient?
Confidence is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. It can set them up for success if you nurture their self esteem but more importantly, it may hold them back if they lack that self esteem. After raising raising 2 daughters this is what I’ve learned about building up their self esteem.
I write about topics like these and more things on parenting that are close to my heart in our exclusive Editorial Piece every Saturday, If you have signed up for the Kidsstoppress FREE Newsletter, you will get this in your inbox every Saturday morning. If you haven’t sign up right away!
Parul Gupta
KSP Team
Janani S Koushik
