Why I Let My Kids See Me Struggle (And Keep Going)

I was attempting to assemble a complicated piece of furniture while my children watched. After the third failed attempt and some choice words under my breath, my six-year-old asked, "Why don't you just give up?" It was a valid question—I was clearly struggling. "Because," I said, taking a deep breath, "this is how we learn hard things. We try, mess up, get frustrated, and try again. Want to help me figure this out?"

When children see us struggle and persist, they learn that difficulty is a normal part of learning, that adults don't magically know how to do everything, and that the process of figuring things out is often more valuable than the end result.

Learn more about modeling resilience in "Unexpected Gifts of Parenting"—where struggle becomes a teacher for the whole family.