“If you are going to make your kids tough, which they better be if they are going to survive in the world, you can't interfere when they're doing dangerous things carefully.”
- Jordan Peterson (@jordan.b.peterson)

As parents, it's natural to protect our children. To remove them from potentially dangerous situations. We know, better than they, the risks of climbing trees, jumping from boulder to boulder, or wrestling with one another.

Our instint is to remind them to "be careful".

But what is careful?
Have they been shown what careful looks like in that situation?
Does that mean you don't think they can do it?

While it comes from the right place, perhaps we can alter the implementation.

Growing up, whether climbing a ladder or tree, walking on a narrow trail or rocks, my dad would say, "Be sure-footed".

A simple saying but implied multiple things all within the "be careful" realm:
1. Think ahead and know your next step.
2. Make sure what you are stepping on is solid.
3. I have confidence in your ability to do the first two by yourself.

Encourage your children to push beyong their abilities.
Build their confidence to do so.

- Chad Vrla
Founder of TheIntentionalFather.com

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather