We live in a world of apps, hacks, shortcuts, and same-day delivery. If something’s inconvenient, we find a workaround. If something’s uncomfortable, we avoid it. If someone’s struggling, we jump in and fix it.

And honestly? I’ve caught myself doing the same thing for my kids.

They forget their practice jersey? “No worries, I’ll bring it to school.”
They load the dishwasher wrong? “It’s just faster if I do it.”
They forget a deadline or don’t do their chores? “I’m tired of reminding them—I’ll just take care of it.”

I do it out of love, of course. I don’t want them to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. I don’t want to watch them be unsure or disappointed. I just want them to be happy.

But here’s the hard truth I’m sitting with:
Rescuing them from every inconvenience now only makes life harder for them later.

Because real life isn’t always convenient.
It does come with discomfort.
It requires problem-solving, personal responsibility, and the ability to sit with consequences—and we don’t learn those skills if we’re constantly cushioned from reality.

Our kids need the space to mess up.
To feel a little embarrassed.
To figure things out on their own.
To sit in the tension and grow through it.

When we step in and smooth every bump, we’re not helping—we’re robbing them of the chance to build resilience, grit, and confidence.

So if you’ve been there too—tired, stretched thin, just trying to avoid another argument—I see you. But maybe this is the gentle nudge we both need to remember:
The goal isn’t to make their life easy.
It’s to prepare them for life.

Let’s be the kind of moms who let our kids struggle a little… so they can shine a lot.