Conversation Starter: Are there ever times when you feel like an imposter?

People used to say things to Bode like, “It’s so easy for you to make friends!” 

But when he went away to college, he felt shy and insecure. Inside, he felt like he was struggling to find a social group. He thought that maybe he was a fraud—that he didn’t really have this great friend-making attribute that everyone had assigned to him.

When you tell your children that they are something—whether that is a positive or negative thing—you risk simultaneously and inadvertently telling them that they cannot be something else. 

This comes at a risk. A child who is told that she is smart will freak out a little bit (or a lot) on the inside when she cannot tackle a problem or when she makes an error. 

I hope no one finds out my secret, she will think, and it will shut down the lines of communication. After all, no one wants to be found out as an imposter. 

It’s hard, if not impossible, to resist the urge to label a person, but at a minimum, initiate a conversation about it.

Then, see if you can comment on your child’s effort in the future, and do not label the behavior as permanent. After all, your children might not always put in the effort, and sometimes, they will put in the effort, but the results will be less-than-spectacular. 

Instead of calling a child “smart,” try, “You usually work hard to solve problems, and I have noticed that you often arrive at the correct answer.” 

Instead of calling a child “honest,” try, “Most of the time, you tell me the truth, even when it is hard for you to do so.” 

Instead of saying, “You are so good at making friends,” say, “From the outside, it looks like you make friends easily. Do you agree that you are good at it, or do you not always feel confident when it comes to making new friends?” 

Instead of calling a child “athletic,” try, “Your hard work and extra practice seem to be paying off in soccer. You are doing really well.” 

That said, here is the truth: Try as you might, you will likely assign your children some labels. From time to time, take stock of the labels you have assigned to your children and check in with your children to let them know that those labels are removable if they no longer fit or feel good. 

When you open up conversations, you can let your children know that they won’t always feel smart, or honest, or outgoing, or athletic, or whatever. Sometimes, they will feel like an imposter. 

Let them know that we have all felt that way at times. Share your own stories of feeling like an imposter, and let you kids know that you won’t think less of them if they struggle, if something that once seemed easy is difficult, or if they simply decide to put their efforts and focus elsewhere. 

Here are some conversation starters to address some of the labels you might have assigned to your children …

• “Has there ever been a time when something seemed impossible, and you got the answer wrong, even though you were trying your hardest?”
• “Have you ever told a lie and felt really guilty about it later because you are usually so honest?”
• “Have you ever felt really uncomfortable or shy in a social situation?”
• “Are there ever times when a certain sport seems particularly difficult for you, or when you just don’t want to do it anymore?”