273: You Don’t Have to Validate Everything Your Kid Does
Description
In this episode, I’m talking about something that’s taken over modern parenting—the obsession with validating everything our kids do. Somewhere along the way, we started thinking we had to be front-row cheerleaders for every kick, drawing, or math problem. But here’s the truth: that constant validation actually chips away at your child’s confidence. I share stories from my own time coaching baseball (yes, me!) and explain why kids are better without us hovering. We’ll talk about how overpraise leads to fragile self-esteem, how to shift from “good job” to meaningful feedback, and why letting your kids handle discomfort builds resilience that lasts a lifetime
Timestamps:
00:00 — The “mom on her phone” parenting guilt trend
02:15 — Why constant validation hurts kids’ confidence
05:30 — Coaching baseball and what kids do better without parents watching
07:00 — Why kids need freedom to deal with discomfort and conflict
09:30 — Praise effort, not outcome — the “good job” trap
11:00 — What to say instead of “I’m so proud of you”
13:00 — How to help kids process accomplishments through storytelling
15:30 — The danger of “you made me happy” parenting language
17:00 — Teaching kids emotional boundaries — your feelings aren’t theirs
18:00 — How to raise confident, grounded kids without overpraise
19:00 — Final thoughts: you don’t have to validate everything they do
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