My latest guest on The Expressive Mom Show is Michelle Blais. Michelle is a seasoned elementary school teacher with a psychology background and has spent over 17 years working with children in grades 1-5.
Her passion lies in building confidence and resilience in kids, primarily through promoting a growth mindset. As a “recovering perfectionist” herself, Michelle understands the pressures of always striving for flawlessness, and she’s applied these growth techniques to her own life.
Now, she focuses on empowering parents to adopt these same strategies, believing that parents play a crucial role in fostering meaningful and lasting changes in their children’s mindsets.
The Harmful Impact of Perfectionism
Perfectionism can affect both children and parents. For children, the desire to be perfect often stems from a fear of failure or the pressure to meet high expectations, particularly those set by parents.
This fear can lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, and a reluctance to take on challenges. Children may avoid situations where they feel they might fail, which stifles their growth, creativity, and overall sense of self-worth. They become fixated on avoiding mistakes rather than embracing them as opportunities for learning and development.
On the other hand, parents can also fall into the trap of perfectionism. They may feel responsible for their child’s success, believing their achievements reflect their worth. This mindset can lead to unrealistic expectations for themselves and their children, which causes stress, guilt, and strained relationships.
Parents may become overly controlling, focusing on the results rather than the effort their child puts into the process. This creates an environment where children feel emotionally restricted, unable to express their true selves for fear of disappointing their parents.
Michelle believes that breaking this harmful cycle begins with open communication and a shift in focus. By prioritizing effort and growth over perfection, parents can create a supportive, nurturing environment where children feel empowered to embrace challenges and learn from their mistakes, ultimately building the resilience and confidence needed for lifelong success.
Connect with Michelle on IG: @misschellemindset and her LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/
Follow Expressive Mom on Instagram at @anexpressivemom and on Substack. at https://expressivemom.substack.com.
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