Tiny Talk Tuesday: "You Can Do Hard Things"

Last week was a bittersweet one for our family — our youngest son, Ryland, had his very last middle school awards night. And what a night it was! He walked away with four awards this year, and we couldn’t be prouder. What makes it even more special is that he’s made it to awards night every single year since 6th grade — and every year, he’s taken home more than one award.

Now, as he heads into high school — the final, and arguably most exciting chapter of school for our boys — we’re full of both pride and nostalgia. Watching your last child close the door on one chapter and walk boldly into the next stirs up all kinds of feelings.

One moment that really stuck with me was during the principal’s speech. He spoke directly to the 8th graders and reminded them that “the best is yet to come.” He painted a picture of the amazing experiences and opportunities that lie ahead. And then he said something that made me smile:
“Kids, you can do hard things.”

I’ve said those exact words to my boys since they were tiny. In fact, not long ago, I was babysitting sweet Cooper for Rachel. He was struggling to fall asleep at our house — everything felt unfamiliar and a little scary. I leaned down, whispered in his ear, “You can do hard things,” and gave him a reassuring snuggle. It may seem silly, like sleeping is no big deal, but in that moment, it was hard for him. And you know what? He did it. And the next time he came over, he fell asleep like a champ.

That phrase has become part of our family's rhythm — whether it’s facing a tough test, a new school, or even something as small as letting a doctor listen to your heartbeat when you're nervous. When I worked at the clinic, I used to say it to my pediatric patients too. Because kids, even the bravest ones, are just tiny humans — and sometimes, we all need someone to remind us that we can do hard things.

So today, mama, I want to remind you:
You can do hard things too.

Whether it’s juggling school events, paying bills, catching up on laundry, or trying to get through dinner without losing your mind — we all have days we feel like supermom and others where the to-do list feels like it’s winning. But through it all, you're raising little humans who are watching, learning, and absorbing every encouraging word.

Encourage your kids to face what scares them. Remind them they’re brave and capable, even when things feel overwhelming. Because one day, when you’re not there to whisper it in their ear, they’ll hear it in their heart instead:
"I can do this. I can do hard things. Just like Mom always said."

And that? That’s the kind of legacy that sticks.