We want to raise strong, healthy, self sufficient adults who are compassionate towards others and passionate about their own goals. That kind of adult doesn’t always expect to get their own way, but they do have a strong sense of who they are and what they are about.

Of course, it’s nice when our children agree with us, when they cooperate with us, when they “fall in line” with our beliefs. But don’t you think that at some point, they need to venture out from under our wings and figure out what they really want? That doesn’t have to mean rebelling or causing trouble. In the right family context, one in which honest differences are celebrated, this kind of curiosity can be just one sign of healthy progress.