I kept a list of things I wanted to tell my children when they were old enough and by the time they were old enough I realized half the list was wrong - and the half that was wrong taught me more about who I'd become as a parent than the half that still held true - Silicon Canals

"The stuff I thought mattered that really didn't. Top of my list, written in all caps and underlined twice: 'ALWAYS FINISH WHAT YOU START.' I hammered this into my boys from day one. Didn't matter if it was Little League, a school project, or learning to wire a three-way switch. You start it, you finish it. No exceptions. Know what that actually taught them? That being miserable was more important than being smart about your choices."

"Another gem from my list: 'Never let anyone see you sweat.' I grew up believing that showing weakness was the fastest way to lose respect. So I taught my boys to keep their problems to themselves, handle their business, never let anyone see them struggle. What a load of crap that was. All it did was teach them that asking for help meant you were weak."

A father reflects on wisdom he collected in notebooks over decades, intending to share it with his sons. Upon review, he discovers half his advice was fundamentally wrong. His insistence that children always finish what they start taught them to prioritize completion over making smart choices, leading to years of unhappiness in jobs and relationships. His directive to never show weakness or ask for help created shame around vulnerability and prevented his sons from seeking support during difficult times. These realizations demonstrate that the most valuable parenting lessons come from recognizing mistakes and understanding how rigid philosophies can inadvertently damage children's emotional development and decision-making abilities.

Read at Silicon Canals