Krissy Pozatek is an author, speaker, licensed therapist, and parent coach. She speaks and facilitates transformational parent workshops all over the country. You can learn more about her work at www.parallel-process.com
Pozatek encourages parents to do what they can be help their children overcome obstacles, but she cautions that they can run into trouble when they overly protect them from the inevitable challenges of childhood and adolescence. A healthy parent and child relationship is built on letting youngsters experience a full range of emotions. Fear-based parenting comes with trying to control a son or daughter's feelings. It just doesn't wash!
Not everything can be fixed in a hurry, and the more worrying fathers and mothers do, the longer loss and disappointment linger in the household. When major problems surface in their children's lives, parents can help them out but not "save" them. Here is where the helpful Buddhist spiritual practice of equanimity works well.
Pozatek praises the take-charge behavior of Temple Grandin, an extraordinary woman with autism. She learned at an early age that she would have to make her own way in the world, and so she figured out how to do so.
Pozatek concludes that parents can be alive, fresh, and present for their children." She calls this brave parenting.
