It may be every parent's dream to give their child a better life than theirs. This is one of the most admirable traits a parent can even possess, because it shows selflessness toward their own offspring. It shows that a parent reached such maturity that they now want their child to enjoy life even more than they enjoyed their own.

As a student with several peers surrounding me frequently, I've seen a broad spectrum via my friends' parents impact on them. I've seen children have to possess their own job, while keeping their grades up, while also playing a sport they love or learning instruments in the process. I've also seen children be handed endless amounts of money every week without doing basically anything to obtain it even when they were seniors in high school or freshmen in college.

While it's beautiful to want to give your child everything, it's important to remember not to baby your child, as tempting as it might be.

So what? Who am I to comment on this matter at all? I have no kids, I'm in college; if anything, I'm just now becoming an adult. However, what I do have is a reflection of the kids who were babied and the kids who functioned as their own individuals.

It's a difficult concept to grasp: not doing everything possible for your child even though you could supply them with all the essentials to live a perfect life. However, here's what I say to that: If you give a child every single thing, how will they ever know how to attain anything at all on their own?

I don't by any means imply that you should let your child starve, work every second of their life, and buy their own apartment at age 13. I am attempting to get at the balance that I've witnessed (from my peers) that is crucial to our development as people.

By not giving your children everything, you are giving them everything. You are giving them responsibility, you are giving them the grace to make their own decisions (some may be worse than others), and you are giving them independence.

Everything in moderation should be stressed here, as well. Independence doesn't mean craziness, but to not control every life choice of your child. As much as you'd like to always be able to control their life, it's not realistic and not their own, but your idea of their world which you as a parent think is "perfect."

To them, it may not be how they want their life to be. You have to let them choose some things on their own, otherwise they'll never learn on their own or be able to function in society on their own.