Elvira Burgo

Back to school can be anxiety-producing not only for children, but also for parents who are concerned about outside influences and challenges.

I’ll admit that I was that kind of parent.

Initially, it was difficult to send my children off to school, knowing they would have to face the world and its challenges. Issues like fitting in and adapting to a new teacher or situation were inevitable. My instincts were to protect them, and I knew I could not.

The pressures and demands of school are real, but I’ve come to realize that we can’t always protect our children from the outside world unless we keep them in a bubble or homeschool them. And even when we do shelter or homeschool our children, how will they learn to function, get along with others, or deal with the outside world and its trials?

While protecting our children from outside influences seems ideal, it can also have unintended consequences.  

I have observed a situation where a young adult came back home from college and never returned. That is one example, but there are several others. 

Life won’t always be easy, but I do believe our children will manage and will get through just fine. And if they don’t, there are tools to help them. 

In my next article, I will share strategies for building resilience in children, so they are better equipped to deal with life’s obstacles and issues.

Thanks for reading,

Elvira