I’ve worked with kids for 2 decades and been a parent for 13+ years. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve actually needed to RUN toward a child who got hurt. Because when we see our kid fall, our instinct is often: 🚨 RUN 🚨 PICK THEM UP 🚨 “OH MY, ARE YOU OKAY?!” 🚨 “THAT LOOKED REALLY BAD!” And I get it. We love them. Our instinct is to protect them. But with minor falls and little bonks, our reaction can sometimes communicate something our words don’t: “This is a really BIG DEAL” So instead of immediately rushing over, most of the time I barely move. Maybe I slowly walk over. Maybe I simply say, “You okay?” And then I let them show me what they need. Because there’s a difference between being there for your child and catering to every whimper. If every little bump gets a huge reaction, a lot of attention, immediate rescuing, and an adult taking over, kids can start looking to us to determine how serious a situation is and expecting us to fix every uncomfortable moment. I want my kids to know: “Dad is here if I need him… but I can handle a lot of this myself” That doesn’t mean ignoring them. It means staying calm enough to let their reaction guide yours. And OBVIOUSLY this is about minor falls, bumps, and bonks. If your child is seriously injured or in danger? RUN. 😂 But for the everyday stuff? Sometimes the best response is simply: “Ouch. Let me know if you need help..” …and then give them a chance to figure out what they need. Because confidence isn’t built by removing every uncomfortable moment. It’s built by experiencing those moments and learning, “I’m okay…I can handle this” #parentingtips #parentingadvice #positiveparenting #parentcoach #calmparenting — @mike_on_parenting TikTok