Building Confidence on the Playground

My sons, Mason & Chase at the Mystic Aquarium in Norwalk, CT

Now more than ever, my friends and I are having more conversations about finding yourself and just what it means to be "you." And self -confidence & self esteem always come into play. They defintitely play a big role in finding yourself, knowing who you are, and ultimately being comfortable with that person. As a parent I've come to realize that you have the ability to build up your child's self confidence everyday, in a good way. You of course don't want to drive your child to narcissism, but just make them comfortable enough within his/her own skin that they're not second guessing themselves later on. Reinforce ideas that what makes them THEM is special and that while nobody is like he/she EVERYBODY is different. Take notice of their little interests and encourage activities and excursions related to them. Hone talents they exhibit from an early age and get EXCITED about them. SHOW them that you're proud and TELL them that they're great, and you're happy they like the things they do. Give them something about themselves to be proud of and they'll build their esteem from there. You are each other's biggest fans and there's so much power in just that. Instilling the self-esteem they need while they are most impressionable will give them the ability and confidence to face risks, be happy and true to the individuals they become, and uncover any dreams they may have...what more could a mother ask for?