The other day, a child was running around the pool. The lifeguard politely asked him to walk instead.
This is standard practice—lifeguards have enforced pool safety rules for decades.
The boy's father, a large man, approached the lifeguard and insisted that only he, as the father, had the authority to correct his son.
He demanded the lifeguard speak to him first and let him decide if discipline was needed.
The lifeguard stayed calm and professional, explaining his duty to enforce pool rules like 'no running,' a universal standard.
The father grew aggressive, insisting he saw no issue and telling the lifeguard to 'shut up.' In essence, his son could run because he said so—pool rules be damned.
I've noticed a troubling trend: many adults hesitate to correct children who aren't theirs.
Recently, my sister hosted friends. One guest gently reminded her child to share a toy—a normal interaction.
Later, the guest apologized, fearing he'd overstepped modern boundaries.
'You're kidding,' my sister replied. 'Please correct them if needed. They must learn to respect others beyond just me.'
Children need diverse voices to thrive. If only I correct mine, they'll be unprepared for reality—teachers, coaches, bosses won't cater to them.
Overprotecting sets false expectations, leaving them vulnerable without parental intervention.
We've all seen parents micromanaging school life for perfect outcomes—top grades, elite classes.
By high school, such interference draws eye-rolls from educators.
My middle school daughter and a friend missed a homework deadline despite reminders. The friend's mom visited me, distraught, demanding we fix the 'injustice.'
We talked for an hour, but I deferred to school channels. She never followed up.
As a parent of high schoolers, I've let my son fail subjects—not catastrophically, but enough to learn.
We discussed it: my role is guiding him to fall, rise, and grow while under my roof.
Resilience is life's key skill. I dread them crumbling in college without me smoothing every path.
Open letter to anyone knowing my kids: Correct them freely—no feet on coffee tables, no running by pools, respect house rules. It's selfish: it prepares them for independence.
