Name the Obstacle
Acknowledge what's hard so they feel understood—without jumping in to fix it.
“Ugh, that looks hard.”
Calling all moms with kids a 8-14
Stop carrying their pack. Start teaching them to climb.
A free 3-page guide on why mindset matters more than ever for kids 8 to 14, plus the one-sentence script for the moment they say ‘I can’t.’
Less rescuing. More ‘I can try.’
Know when to step back, what to say, and how to help your kid work through the hard part—without doing it for them.
- Understand what’s behind ‘I can’t.’
- Know what to say next.
- Help them take the next step.
FREE 3-PAGE GUIDE
Guide, Don't Carry
for when your kid says 'I can't'
You're ready for them to handle more.
But when homework gets tricky, practice feels hard, or a chore doesn't go to plan, you're still the one stepping in.
They say ‘I can't’ before they've really had a chance to try.
You remind, explain, and encourage—then end up finishing it yourself.
You want to help without becoming the answer to every hard moment.
Sound familiar?
You don't need another pep talk—or another job on your list. You need a way to help them try the next step without taking it over.
Here's what you'll learn
Guide, Don't Carry
Three small shifts for the next ‘I can't.’ Less fixing for you. More thinking, trying, and following through for them.
Ask, don't tell
Help them think of a next step instead of supplying the answer. ‘I can't’ can become ‘I can't yet.’
“What have you tried? What's one thing you could try next?”
Notice the climb
Point out the effort and strategies they used, so progress matters more than getting it perfect.
“You stuck with that for ten minutes.”
Ready to try it at your house?
Get the free 3-page Guide, Don't Carry guide and a one-sentence script you can use this week.
I am Laura
and I'm figuring this out, too.
Former middle grades teacher. Homeschooling mom for 4 years.
My kids are athletes, musicians, and entrepreneurs, and they read a lot. I teach them every day how to get 1% better, how to fall in love with work, and how not to fear failure. I'm a mom of two boys and a basketball coach. I'm still learning when to step in—and when to let them find their footing.
Raising Climbers · Guide, Don't Carry
Guides are coming soon.
Practical guides for the hard moments are in the works. In the meantime, start with the free 3-page Guide, Don’t Carry guide and join The Basecamp.
More ‘I can try.’ A little less on you.
Start with one hard moment, not a parenting overhaul. Get the free 3-page guide and try the script this week. Guide, don't carry.
Let's Get Started