Do you let your kids experience things as “good enough”? Or do you try hard to make things “just right” for your kids? Let me give you a few, small examples:

For littles: 

·      Hand-me-down clothes vs. new – good enough 

·      Meals on the go without judging yourself if it’s fast food or processed – good enough 

·      A quick wipe off vs. a bath – good enough 

·      Letting them feel bored vs. entertaining them – good enough 

For elementary age kids: 

·      Using the same backpack and water bottles as last year – good enough 

·      Reading the book together or on audio vs. forcing assigned reading – good enough 

·      Taking part in one activity at a time vs. overloading schedules – good enough 

·      Making do with a messy bedroom that the child has done him/herself vs. perfecting the room – good enough 

For adolescence: 

·      Allowing them to make and take their own lunch, even if it’s not the most nutritious – good enough 

·      Saying no to all the new gadgets, using older versions – good enough 

·      Used cars, used clothes, a style of their own – good enough 

·      Submitting partially done or not doing homework vs. managing their online platforms – good enough 

I’m pointing out small, benign examples because I believe they pave the way for learning ways to cope with situations that might not be ideal. I think this is how children learn to be ok – content with a bit of discomfort or not having things exactly their way. In a world of “Have it your way” and “If it’s not perfect, we’ll re-make it” – we teach kids that they don’t have to learn to cope with discomfort, and it’s not doing them any favors.

Take a look at the boys in this photo. That’s where they slept overnight, and I caught that picture in the early morning of a rodeo competition. Soon after, they climbed out from under the truck, found some food and a change of clothes in their truck, and headed into the arena to compete. They never asked for anything more. And no one offered. Sure, had it been extremely cold, raining sideways, or freezing, this incredible community would have offered them shelter. But, we also respected that they made the drive, paid their fees, and decided that paying for a sport or paying for a hotel was a choice. And the ground was “good enough” for these tough cowboys. 

And you know what else these boys now have?  A story about a summer full of riding bulls, going from one rodeo to the next, sleeping under a truck in the heat of summer, and going all out for the thrill of a ride. 

Sometimes, protecting our kids from discomfort robs them of a story, of learning about grit and sacrifices, and it disallows them from figuring things out for themselves. I bet they were mighty grateful for their beds and a warm shower when they got home. 

So, tell me, what are YOU doing to allow your kids to experience things just as they are, good enough, so they can grow and problem solve on their own?