I think we’re teaching our kids incorrectly.
Here’s why:
We’ve gotten into this pattern of pushing our kids to become the best at a sport, getting straight A’s, or starting a side business at 14.
I couldn’t care less about my son achieving any of those things.
You know what I do care about?
I want him to be kind to others.
I want him to make eye contact.
I want him to hold the door open.
I want him to stand up for himself.
I want him to pick up after himself.
I want him to help someone in need.
I want him to say please and thank you.
I want him to be honest over being right.
I want him to give back without expectation.
We’ve shifted the incentives of what they should care about.
In turn, we’ve lost the focus on parenting our kids to be upstanding human beings.
So the question becomes, “What are we incentivizing our kids to focus on?”
It starts with teaching them the most important qualities of a great life.