As the season of giving approached a few weeks ago, Dr. Madeline Levine wrote an article for
challenge success, an organization dedicated to new concepts for success in education, in which she named the gifts she would like to see parents give their kids. They did not include ski holidays, computers, smart phones or argyle socks. She started with less overscheduling, more play time, down time and family time.
Critical of the "more, better, faster" culture that results in teenage anxiety and depression, Levine goes on to ask parents to consider "The Gift of Failure" by letting go.... Let kids screw up a little bit. Stop micro-managing. Let them own their own success and failures.
"The path to a successful life doesn't involve academic superstardom followed by an Ivy League degree.... Next to genetics, perfectionism is the strongest predictor of clinical depression we know of."
"Life is full of mistakes, imperfect days, human failings." We want people to work hard, and we've proved that people work hardest when they anticipate success, however defined.
In a supportive environment, that success may be measured by attaining Honor Roll, or Effort Honor Roll, or a better day than yesterday. But everyone is facing in the same direction.
