This may sound harsh, but think about it for a moment. Some of the best learning experiences aren’t very pleasant.

Too often, parents rush to relieve their children of discomfort or annoyance when the kids could be learning to solve their own problems. When a child loses a toy or spills water on their clothes, a kid can either learn that parents will always bail them out or that they should be more careful next time. 

In the real world, actions have consequences. If kids don't experience the consequences of their actions early on, they're set up for a life of unrealistic expectations.

The next time your kid falls down and isn’t seriously hurt, don’t rush over to pick them up! We like to say, “You’re okay. Brush yourself off. What do you want to do next?”

Learning to appreciate your child’s discomfort can help make them more resilient and responsible. It’s not easy, we want to just make everything better for them, but there is tremendous value in letting them face consequences now so they’ll make wise choices when they are older.