Have you ever had someone tried to help you parallel bark? You know what I mean, right?

That moment when a well-meaning person starts waving their arms, giving directions, and then suddenly

what was already stressful becomes ten times more complicated. Their intentions are good. They are,

but somehow their help, oh my gosh, it just makes everything so much harder. Or maybe you've

been on the other side, right? Watching someone struggle with something that seems just simple to fix, right?

Fighting the urge to step in and just do it for them.

We've all been there, especially as a parent, right, caught between wanting to help and then wondering if we should just hold back.

Speaking of help, that isn't always hopeful.

I see this play out daily with my two boys.

One of them is 14, the other is 11,

and they are completely opposite when it comes to help.

The older one is always eager to jump in and just assist his

younger brother, offering suggestions and solutions at every turn. The problem is the 11-year-old,

he is fiercely independent, pretending to figure things out on his own, even if it means taking

the longer and much more difficult path.

Now I watch this play out almost daily.

I'm just trying to help, the 14-year-old will say.

Frustration begins to creep into his voice as his brother just

turned around with another well-meaning offer, but I don't want your help. The 11-year-old responds,

equally frustrated of what he perceives as interference rather than help.

Now, neither of them are wrong.

They're not.

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