No one wants their child to feel ostracized or left out. It’s painful to watch someone you love struggle to find their place. But here’s the truth: the only people who never feel different are the ones who mold themselves to fit into every group they encounter. They don’t stand out because they don’t stand for anything. They’re basic. And in my house, “basic” is unacceptable.
Most parents beam when their kid fits in, blends well, and appears “well-adjusted.” But not me. I’m not raising kids to be comfortable. I’m raising them to be capable. While the world chases ease, I’m pushing my kids—and my professional teams—to chase growth. And growth doesn’t live in the comfort zone.
Maybe that makes me a bad parent. Maybe it makes me an outlier in the bleachers or the least popular executive at the corporate away day. But until someone shows me a meaningful life built on ease and approval, I’ll keep signing birthday cards with love from your “mediocre mom.”
I want the people I care about to know the full-body adrenaline of taking a risk. I want them to experience the triumph that comes after failure, the pride earned only through discomfort, and the kind of personal evolution that never shows up when you play it safe.
Because in the real world—on the field, in the office, or anywhere in between—basic doesn’t win.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Lisa’s Substack to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.