Mistakes . . . They are what we avoid. 
They are what we deliberately redirect our kids from.

Why? Because mistakes can be painful, harmful, and downright embarrassing. No one wants others to see or notice their mistakes, right? It can physically and mentally hurt.

And yet . . . while we can also recall instances when those very mistakes have TRULY taught us. One painfully embarrassing mistake can teach us lessons that we remember and somehow-- unlike advice or direction from others-- those lessons stay LEARNED. As a matter of fact, after mistakes we tend to become like finely tuned scientists. We analyze, measure, and dissect those mistakes to truly understand WHY the mistakes happened and how never to do them again. We learn and move on . . . and are better for it.

But then we become parents and mistakes feel heavier and "more serious".  I mean, personally, I feel more responsibility NOT have my kids make choices that -- as the parent, I can clearly see are wrong. I often find myself stopping mid-sentence after the words "Be careful because . . ." and "Aren't you concerned about . . . " because I know as a kid, honestly, I wasn't careful or concerned. But I also wasn't trying to be malicious or headstrong. 

I just had to feel like I could make my own decision.

Making our own decisions is empowering. It’s no different with kids.

As a parent it IS OUR JOB to protect our kids. But it’s also our job to empower them.
So how about this: we inform and direct them instead? Parents can provide options (less is better the younger they are) that are acceptable to you and agreeable to them. Choice is empowerment; safety is key.

Mistakes will happen . . . but with a little guidance the mistakes can be smaller and handled together!