05/01/2025
It’s so easy to slip into guilt-based parenting, especially if you’re carrying emotional weight from your own journey or your child’s circumstances.
- Maybe you feel guilty that your child only has one parent
- Maybe you’re trying to make up for the time you’re not able to spend with them
- Maybe you just hate seeing them upset after a tough day.
Out of love, we sometimes respond by:
✨ Doing tasks for them that they are capable of doing
✨ Overbuying toys, gifts, or experiences
✨ Relaxing expectations like chores or schoolwork
✨ Avoiding saying “no” to prevent conflict or disappointment
While it comes from a good place, guilt-led decisions can unintentionally teach kids that they don’t have to develop key skills like independence, resilience, or patience. It can accidentally communicate, “You can’t handle this on your own.”
The truth is: Kids are incredibly resilient.
Yes, they might have been handed a harder deck of cards (a divorce, a loss, an absent parent, a move, or a tough diagnosis.)
But adversity doesn’t define them 💪🏼
It can shape them into strong, empathetic, courageous human beings, if we give them the space, SUPPORT and tools to grow.
Choosing firm, loving boundaries teaches children:
💬 “I believe in your ability to navigate this.”
💬 “I trust you to build strength through challenge.”
Parenting out of empowerment instead of guilt is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child 🫶🏼
