Michelle Obama says the ‘ultimate job’ for a parent is to let kids fail and build resilience

Michelle Obama, the former first lady, emphasized the significance of parents allowing their children to take risks and learn from failure.

In the most recent episode of her “IMO” podcast, Obama discussed her desire for her daughters to possess confidence and independence, highlighting that these qualities can only be developed through trial and error.

She acknowledged that many parents fear witnessing their children fail, describing it as a challenging experience to witness your children face obstacles despite your warnings. She stressed the importance of letting children learn from their mistakes, as shielding them from such experiences would hinder their development of competency.

Obama advised parents to gradually increase their children’s independence, emphasizing the importance of teaching resilience from a young age through simple tasks like going to school alone.

She also cautioned against parents prioritizing being friends with their children, emphasizing the significance of respect and boundaries in the parent-child relationship.