It doesn't matter how good a job we do as parents; if we don't protect our children's close circle, everything will be wasted. There are many parents who are not doing their job, and our children shouldn't have to face the consequences. Therefore, we must do everything possible to prevent our children from associating with individuals who have bad habits, lack values, and lack direction in life. One of my favorite books is The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, and one of those laws states: "Avoid the losers." Although it's a harsh lesson, it is fundamental that we all follow it to prevent anyone from hindering our goals, which also applies to parenting.

NASA commissioned the renowned Dr. George Lang to conduct a study with 1,600 children to identify which of them were geniuses and highly creative for their engineering programs, and the results were surprising. Between the ages of 4 and 5, 98% of the children fit the description of “geniuses.” At 10 years old, only 30% of the children remained in that category. At 15 years old, only 12% maintained the criteria for genius and creativity. What was the scientists' conclusion? Why did children lose these qualities as they grew older? The study's answer was clear: it was due to the traditional educational model.

Respectful parenting is a model of upbringing based on respect, love, and empathy toward our children. So far, so good, and any parent would agree that this is the right way to raise a child. However, it also has its downsides, such as the lack of clear boundaries with children and negotiating with them as if parents were not the ultimate authority at home. Like anything else, it has its pros and cons. Take what suits you and what you believe is best for your family, and discard the rest. The only ones who hold the absolute truth about the best way to raise a child are their own parents.

A recent study found that children who are allowed to participate in household tasks have a more positive perception of themselves and feel more useful than those who are not given the opportunity to do so. There are many activities in which we can involve our children, from making the beds, picking up toys and dishes, to cooking, washing dishes, and watering plants. The key is to find tasks suited to their age and abilities without putting them at risk, and to approach these activities with positive and encouraging energy. This way, instead of seeing chores as a burden, they will embrace them with joy and responsibility.

In a video circulating online, we see a mother polar bear react in a surprising way when her cub falls into the water. Upon noticing its fall, the mother doesn’t help physically but rather emotionally. She jumps into the water with the cub to show her support. However, she allows it to fight the battle on its own and overcome the challenge independently. In addition to helping the cub build character, she lets it test itself for a future fall—one where she might not be present—thereby reducing the latent risk. Mother Nature is wise and offers us this powerful lesson about overprotection.