Trusting Their Journey

: A Shift in Parenting Perspective

Yesterday, my son told me that he had managed to upset a customer at work. Mind you, he just started this job—it was only his second day. Luckily, we were communicating via text because my initial response was, What did you do? But something inside me said, No, not this time. So, I deleted those words and instead responded with, They needed it. It’s a lesson for them. Keep being you. You’re perfect.

That moment felt like a breakthrough. How many times do we, as parents, instinctively react with concern or correction? We want our kids to do well, to be liked, to fit in, and to succeed. But in doing so, we sometimes send the message that their natural way of being isn’t good enough. That they need to change, to be careful, to adjust who they are for the comfort of others.

But what if they don’t? What if, instead of rushing to correct, we remind them that their authenticity is exactly what the world needs? What if we trust their journey instead of fearing it?

Lessons in Reactions

I could have easily made my son feel like he had failed. Instead, I reinforced that he is whole, exactly as he is. I don’t know the details of what happened with that customer, but I do know my son. He’s kind, smart, and full of heart. If someone was upset, maybe it wasn’t his mistake—maybe it was an opportunity for that customer to learn something, to experience growth, or even just to be reminded that the world won’t always cater to them.

And maybe, just maybe, my son needed this moment to learn something too: that his worth isn’t tied to how others react to him.

Breaking the Cycle of Self-Doubt

I grew up in a world where mistakes felt like failures, where people-pleasing was the goal, and where my value often seemed tied to how well I could keep the peace. But I don’t want to pass that on. I want my children to know that they are already enough, that they don’t have to bend themselves to fit someone else’s expectations.

That one text message was a small moment, but it held a massive shift in perspective. It was a reminder that our children are not here to be molded into what makes us or others comfortable. They are here to live, to learn, and to grow—just like we are.

So, to every parent who feels the urge to correct, to fix, to worry—I see you. And I encourage you to pause, just for a moment, and consider another approach. Instead of asking What did you do?, try reminding them: You are perfect just as you are. Because the truth is, they are🫶