#41 - From “I Can’t” to “How Can I?”; Are We Helping Our Kids—or Making Excuses for Them? S3.5

“I don’t have time.” But is time really the problem—or is learning how to manage it part of growing up? In this episode, Sara and Michelle tackle accountability, time management and the temptation we have as parents to make life easier for our kids. From balancing academics, jobs and competitive sport to managing phones, friendships and other distractions, they explore how young athletes can learn to prioritize what matters, use their time effectively and follow through on the commitments they’ve made. They also discuss the difference between supporting our kids and rescuing them, why honest feedback matters, and how effort needs to align with the goals an athlete says they want. The goal isn’t to demand perfection or push every athlete toward the highest level—it’s to help young people move from “I can’t” toward “How can I?” and develop the accountability, self-awareness and problem-solving skills they’ll need far beyond sport. 

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Accountability
2. Effort vs impact - life skills of prioritisation, time allocation and decision making
3. What’s fair? Effort matters but so does ability