Your Child’s Education Shouldn’t Be About Making Adults Comfortable

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One of my most viral social media posts of all time said this: “It is not your responsibility to make other people comfortable with the choices you make for your family.”

And yet, despite that resonating with literally tens of millions of peope, so many parents still feel pressured to keep their kids in traditional schooling because it’s what makes other people comfortable.

📌 It’s what family members expect.
📌 It’s what other parents around you are doing.
📌 It’s what feels ‘normal’ to society.

But absolutely NONE of that has anything to do with what’s actually best for your child.

Who is School Designed to Serve?

If we take a hard look at traditional schooling, it’s clear that the system was never built with kids’ well-being, curiosity, or individuality in mind. It was built for efficiency, order, and control.

Schools were designed to make life easier for policymakers, administrators, and working parents who needed a place for their kids to go all day—not necessarily to create the most engaging, joyful, and meaningful learning experiences.

And when kids don’t fit the mold? It’s not the system that changes—it’s the child who’s expected to conform.

📌 Too wiggly? They need to sit still.
📌 Too talkative? They need to be quiet.
📌 Too creative? They need to follow instructions.
📌 Too independent? They need to learn to comply.
📌 Too all-of-these-things? They need medication. (I almost didn’t put this one, but I think it needs to be said.)

None of this is about what children actually need to thrive. It’s about what makes the system run more smoothly.

Making Adults Comfortable vs. Helping Kids Thrive

Ready for a hard truth?

When parents keep their kids in a system that isn’t serving them—just because it’s what feels normal or expected—it’s often about making adults comfortable more than making sure kids are actually thriving.

But your child’s education isn’t about making teachers, family members, or even you feel at ease. It’s about giving them an environment where they can grow, explore, and discover who they truly are.

And that might mean choosing a path that makes people around you uncomfortable.

What Happens When Kids Are Free to Learn?

When children are given the space to learn in ways that make sense for them:

🔹 They build real confidence—not the kind that comes from good grades, but the kind that comes from knowing they can figure things out.
🔹 They stay curious. Instead of learning being something they have to do, it becomes something they want to do.
🔹 They explore freely. They follow their passions, dive into their interests, and develop skills that actually matter for their futures.
🔹 They learn how to think instead of just how to follow directions.

None of this happens in an environment built for adult convenience. It happens in an environment built for kids to thrive.

It’s Okay to Make People Uncomfortable

When you choose a different path, some people won’t understand. They’ll question you, challenge you, maybe even judge you.

But that doesn’t mean you’re wrong.

It just means you’re breaking a cycle.

History isn’t changed by the people who stick to what’s comfortable. It’s changed by the people who see something better—and choose it, even when it’s hard.

And that’s exactly what you’re doing for your child.

Their education doesn’t have to be about keeping the adults around them comfortable. It should be about making sure they have the freedom to become exactly who they were meant to be.

🫶🏽 Leah