Life can be fun.  But, life is also hard. . .disappointing. . .and a little frightening. So, as a parent, you need to prepare your child for the unexpected. First, financial. When your child receives a gift or earns some money, sure. . . they can spend a little on themselves and they should share with others in need. But, they should also save a portion to learn to prepare for an unexpected need. Second, social. Teach your child that they’re immeasurably valuable because of who they are, not because of what they do or don’t do. So when they don’t perform in school or sports as expected, they’ll have confidence to press on.  

For more on this topic on my blog, go to 5 ways to prepare your tweens and teens for the unexpected.