Having Their Idea Rejected in a Family Decision: Building Democratic Resilience in Children
Last Sunday, our family gathered to decide how to spend our weekend. My 9-year-old raised her hand enthusiastically and said, “I think we should go to the new water park!” She had researched it online and prepared a compelling argument about the slides and attractions. After hearing everyone’s ideas, we voted and decided on visiting my grandmother instead. My daughter’s face fell as she realized her idea had been rejected by the majority. I knelt beside her and whispered, “Life-Ready Parenting means your child won’t face this for the first time at age 25—with rent due and no safety net.” In that moment, I realized we had a perfect opportunity to practice democratic disappointment in a low-stakes environment. ...