PARENTING, KIDS

Parenting & Ego: Building Confidence Without the Hype

Shinda Singh

One of the coolest parts of being a parent is watching your kid’s personality explode around the age of two. It’s like they go from being a little baby to having their own unique quirks and mischievous tendencies. As they get older, you see even more of their personality, including their pride, ego, and competitive side.

As a parent, you’re faced with a dilemma: Do you encourage their ego and let them think they’re the best, or do you constantly keep them in check? With my kids, I consciously try to find a balance. If my kid makes a good shot, I’ll say, “Yeah, that was a great shot!” because you have to give them that encouragement. But if he starts thinking he’s ready for the NBA, it’s time for a reality check. “You made one shot; you didn’t win the NBA championship. Chill out; you still have a lot of work to do.”

It’s a constant balancing act. I’m not trying to tear them down, but I’m also not trying to inflate their ego to the point where they’re unprepared for the real world. You have to encourage them when they deserve it, but you can’t let them think they’re the best at everything because the world will humble them sooner or later. It’s better if they learn to stay humble and grounded.

Ego can be a real obstacle, so it’s important to instill that sense of humility. As a parent, you’re their safe space, the person they come to for triumphs and support. You don’t want to be the one constantly tearing them down, but you also need to save them from themselves and the world.

This is where things can get tricky, especially when they’re around other kids. I think it’s helpful for kids to have older siblings or friends to emulate and chase after. By trying to keep up with older kids, they realize their place in the hierarchy and see that they have room to improve. If they’re always playing on their own, they might develop an inflated sense of how great they are.

It’s fun to watch their development, though! My kid is always asking me, “Am I a better basketball player than you?” And my answer is always, “Hell no!” When we play, he’s not getting any easy shots on me. I might let him sneak one or two in, just to let him know he can, but for the most part, it’s lockdown defense. No easy buckets!

⏱ Estimated Read Time: 2 minutes

One of the coolest parts of being a parent is watching your kid’s personality explode around the age of two. It’s like they go from being a little baby to having their own unique quirks and mischievous tendencies. As they get older, you see even more of their personality, including their pride, ego, and competitive side.

As a parent, you’re faced with a dilemma: Do you encourage their ego and let them think they’re the best, or do you constantly keep them in check? With my kids, I consciously try to find a balance. If my kid makes a good shot, I’ll say, “Yeah, that was a great shot!” because you have to give them that encouragement. But if he starts thinking he’s ready for the NBA, it’s time for a reality check. “You made one shot; you didn’t win the NBA championship. Chill out; you still have a lot of work to do.”

It’s a constant balancing act. I’m not trying to tear them down, but I’m also not trying to inflate their ego to the point where they’re unprepared for the real world. You have to encourage them when they deserve it, but you can’t let them think they’re the best at everything because the world will humble them sooner or later. It’s better if they learn to stay humble and grounded.

Ego can be a real obstacle, so it’s important to instill that sense of humility. As a parent, you’re their safe space, the person they come to for triumphs and support. You don’t want to be the one constantly tearing them down, but you also need to save them from themselves and the world.

This is where things can get tricky, especially when they’re around other kids. I think it’s helpful for kids to have older siblings or friends to emulate and chase after. By trying to keep up with older kids, they realize their place in the hierarchy and see that they have room to improve. If they’re always playing on their own, they might develop an inflated sense of how great they are.

It’s fun to watch their development, though! My kid is always asking me, “Am I a better basketball player than you?” And my answer is always, “Hell no!” When we play, he’s not getting any easy shots on me. I might let him sneak one or two in, just to let him know he can, but for the most part, it’s lockdown defense. No easy buckets!

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updated_at 31-07-2025

Ai Disclosure: The above posts were transcribed using AI tools. Some language may not have been accurately transcribed.

Ai Header Image Prompt:

High quality, high detail abstract digital painting. The central focus is a vibrant, evolving, somewhat amorphous form, glowing with energetic light – symbolizing a child's developing personality and burgeoning ego. This dynamic form is cradled, gently steered, or subtly challenged by a network of more grounded, geometric, and semi-transparent abstract shapes and lines, representing parental guidance, wisdom, and reality. The composition should evoke a sense of delicate balance and constant adjustment. Elements of fluid motion, like a gentle upward arc intersected by a stabilizing force, or intertwining pathways, should be present. The color palette features energetic blues, vibrant greens, and warm yellows for the child's growth, contrasted with sophisticated muted grays, deep purples, and earthy tones for the grounding influence. Rendered with visible digital brushwork textures, soft light reflections, and layered translucency. Avoid human figures or text. Focus on the interplay of abstract forms to convey the core themes of nurturing confidence with humility.