Do not overprotect them. Teach them that life will throw you curve balls, but they can get back on their feet. You can only learn to keep your balance if you ha

Do not overprotect them. Teach them that life will throw you curve balls, but they can get back on their feet. You can only learn to keep your balance if you have fallen a lot. Teach them not to blame others - or circumstances - for bad things that happen to them. Teach them to take responsibility for their actions and not to ask for handouts. By the way we were strict when they were little, so we had enough slack to give them space when they rebelled in their teens. (3 kids, 2 have great jobs in IT, one is a high school math teacher, all three are successful and valued members of society).