"What we try to save them from maybe they need to experience so they can appreciate your efforts."

Sometimes experience is the best teacher.

I think all parents want to to save their children from the heartaches and pitfalls that tripped them up.

Ultimately, sometimes kids just have to learn some things for themselves. That doesn't mean you don't "try" but know it won't always work out that you save the kid trouble.

I want my kids to learn from my mistakes, but more than that I want them to know how to deal when they make mistakes and when the sh*t happens.

So rather than shield them from consequences I want my children to experience the hard times and consequences while the consequences are still small. In essence I'd rather they face the fire when I can take the brunt of it and let them get singed instead of burnt. Just enough pain to learn, not enough pain to break. Learn to process mistakes, learn to pick yourself back up off the ground, learn to push through when it seems hopeless.

I was shielded and sheltered for most of my childhood, partly because I was a goody two shoes and an introvert. And in college when real life hit it took me down for longer than I care to admit. I think I've come out stronger, but I don't want my boys to hit that pit as hard. I want them to know already how to handle life when it doesn't go your way.