Unison Parenting Blog: Quality over Quantity

I've always been someone who likes numbers, exalts math, adores spreadsheets. But numbers can also lead us astray. Our children have been betrayed by numbers.

Social media has taught our kids the number of followers determine your worth. Young people can become disappointed when their posts don't attract enough likes or shares to suit them. This failure is one of the ways in which social media can lead to loss of self-worth and even depression.

The pursuit of numbers has also taught kids, sometimes to dangerous degrees, that attention-seeking is the best path. They learn to show something outlandish, say something outrageous, and place more flash in their posts.

If there's a good thing, it's that adults understand this disappointment themselves from social media interactions. We can get lured into the same thinking our kids do, though without as much impact to our self-esteem (usually).

What our children must learn, and we parents must teach and model, is the quality of relationships is more important than the quantity of followers. I've known, worked with, and enjoyed time with countless people in my life. But I could probably count on two hands the really good friends who know me deeply and sustain me. Such relationships are priceless.

Let's teach our kids how to make friends, not followers. Adults are quite aware that even deep friendships don't last forever. But quality relationships are beneficial in the present, and even lost relationships can be remembered for the value they gave us. Share your friendship wisdom with your child and help them grow valuable relationships.