I think we all can agree that, as parents, we want the best for our kids. And we want them to be happy. Sometimes, though, it seems like those things are at odds with each other.

I want my kids to be kind and hard-working, joyful and determined. I want them to know the satisfaction that comes from working hard at something you love. I want them to be creative and unique. I want them to find “their thing” and work hard at it. If it were up to my teen, however, his life would consist of video games, Office re-runs, and joking around with his friends. He would find his happiness playing Xbox for days on end, a mini-fridge by his side for late night snacking. His joys don’t include things like playing the guitar or reading YA books or computer coding or mastering how to pitch a good curveball.