We want to raise resilient kids. But can we push that lesson too far?

At a soccer game this weekend, Nikki watched an 8 or 9-year-old boy who had already played three games in extreme heat tell an adult he wasn't okay. He raised his hand, came out of the game, and later said he felt sick to his stomach.

What happened afterward left Nikki thinking about one question:

When are we teaching our kids resilience, and when are we teaching them to ignore their own limits?

The moment hit especially hard because just weeks earlier, Nikki had watched another young athlete collapse during a cross-country race in extreme heat after playing soccer earlier that morning. He fell, suffered a concussion, was taken to the hospital by ambulance, and required continued medical care.

These experiences raised a much bigger parenting question.

We tell our kids:

"Don't quit." "Push through." "You can do hard things."

And those are important lessons.

But shouldn't we also teach them:

"Listen to your body." "Speak up when something isn't right." "It's okay to ask for help."

In this episode of Struggle & Strength: Moms Balancing It All with Nikki, Nikki explores the complicated line between raising resilient kids and pushing them too hard.

You'll hear about:

• The difference between discomfort and knowing something isn't right
• Why stopping isn't always the same as quitting
• How our own expectations can influence how hard we push our kids
• Why kids need to learn both perseverance and self-awareness
• The importance of creating kids who trust themselves enough to speak up
• Why listening to your body can actually be part of resilience

Because maybe raising strong kids isn't about teaching them to push through everything.

Maybe it's teaching them what deserves pushing through, what requires stepping back, and giving them the confidence to know the difference.

🎧 Listen now and share this episode with another parent who has ever wondered where the line is between encouraging their child and pushing too hard.

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