There was a time—one I remember very clearly—when I had to make a conscious decision not to rescue one of my kids.

We were sitting in the car. It was pouring rain. Like a full-on downpour. We were in the Trader Joe's parking lot, and one of my kids was having a really hard time with something that ...

As parents, we all want to protect our kids, especially as they get older and the risks feel bigger. We want to keep them safe from bad friends, bad influences, and bad choices.

That instinct comes from love. But here's the hard truth: 

The strongest protection you can give your child isn't contro...