There were a lot of conversations in our offices yesterday about one parent’s crusade to move parents away from an achieve-at-all-costs attitude for their children. As Madeline Levine, psychologist and author of The Prince of Privilege mentions in the article, “It’s not about lowering the bar. It’s lowering the expectation that they be terrific at everything.”
The article has some sobering information about the toll that an over-emphasis on achievement and perfection can take on kids. While I’ve met many parents at various points on the spectrum of how much importance they place on their kids’ level of achievement and hopes of attending a prestigious college, I don’t recall ever meeting one who didn’t want their student to be happy and healthy. It’s worth a read even if you don’t necessarily subscribe to the recommendations.