This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m talking to parents who are navigating one of the hardest parts of raising athletes: watching your kids struggle with disappointment, pressure, and even toxic coaching environments.

As parents, our instinct is to protect our kids from heartbreak and setbacks. But what if the very challenges we want to shield them from are the ones that help them build resilience for life? Using clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy’s “bench” analogy, I share how letting kids sit with their disappointment — instead of rushing to fix it — prepares them for the bigger benches of adulthood, from heartbreak to career setbacks.

I also dive into an important and difficult topic: what to do if your child’s coach crosses the line into emotional abuse. I share guidance on how to recognize red flags, when to approach a coach, and when to go directly to gym owners or SafeSport.

Whether you’re supporting your child through a tough season, or wondering how to handle an unsafe coaching environment, this episode will give you tools to respond with calm, connection, and courage.

In this episode, Coach Rebecca talks about:

• Dr. Becky Kennedy’s “bench” analogy for building resilience
• How disappointment today builds confidence for tomorrow
• Recognizing the signs of emotionally abusive coaching
• When to have a conversation, how to approach it, and when it’s time to leave

“Your challenge as a parent is not to take your child’s resilience from them by trying to move them off the hard bench. Sit with them on that bench, let them have their feelings, and trust that they’re building the strength they’ll need for life.” – Coach Rebecca

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

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