Positive Self Image

It is a fine balance between motivating our children, and downright stressing them to the point of break-down. Very often we want our kids to accomplish in areas that we ourselves failed to accomplish, educationally, professionally, socially, etc. In effect, we push our kids to make up for our own shortcomings. We subconsciously give negative messages to them that they do not measure up to our expectations. And of course, we do all this damage in the name of caring for our beloved children.

This type of parenting can devastate our children by eroding their sense of self-esteem and worth. This phenomenon is very much alive and common in our own success-driven Jewish Persian communities. It is therefore not surprising that many of our kids are depressed and attracted towards unhealthy activities to make up for their poor self-esteem. If we could just open our ears (and hearts) and listen to our own kids, we will be shocked to hear as how much pain they are going through.

One such wounded soul just wrote to Rabbi Brody and sought his advice. You can read all about it here.