The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty

 One last item of importance in regards to parenting is one I learned about very recently: grit. Grit is strength, endurance, persevering in the face of challenges and trials, falling and getting back up again and again, understanding that growth comes from everything and never limiting yourself.  Building grit in children takes patience and selective words and actions, but it is well worth it. Grit will carry your child through school, relationships, setbacks, careers, and everything else. One of the biggest ways to help build grit in your child is to help them make effort their friend, and teach them to not be afraid of failure. Praise their efforts, the achievement and how their effort helped it happen. Encourage them to get out of their comfort zone. Let them find their own passion and pursue it. An internet article on "Fine Parent" says "...your child’s ability to work hard, endure struggle, fail, and try again may be the key to determining his or her long-term success and happiness." And I agree! Here's another reference to my personal life: I was always praised highly and never really had to endure any academic hardship, and while I've accomplished things, I know that I could be doing so much more. I know I've kept myself back because I'm afraid of failure, I'd almost say even afraid of effort. Can I still develop grit? Absolutely! But would I have been much better off if I would've developed more of it years ago? Without a doubt.