Every parent wants to protect their child from pain, frustration, and failure. When tears well up, or a little face falls in disappointment, the instinct to fix everything is almost overwhelming. But what if those so-called “worst moments” are actually among the most valuable gifts we can give our children?

In Tishan Worst Moment by Chinwe Ibeh, a young girl faces the crushing disappointment of losing a million-dollar lottery ticket entrusted to her. While fictional, her experience mirrors a real childhood truth: moments of loss, frustration, and regret are inevitable. More importantly, they are necessary. Learning to navigate these difficult experiences is how children build emotional strength, responsibility, and long-term resilience.

Here’s why allowing your child to face their own “worst moment” is essential—and how you can guide them through it without rescuing them.

Why Kids Need to Face Disappointment

1. It Builds Emotional Muscle

Resilience is not something children are born with; it is something they develop through practice. Each time a child experiences disappointment—whether losing a game, receiving a poor grade, or misplacing something valuable—they exercise their coping skills. Think of it as building an emotional muscle. Without small failures during childhood, children grow into adults who struggle to handle even minor setbacks.

2. It Teaches Responsibility

Natural consequences are some of the best teachers. When a child forgets homework, breaks a toy, or loses something important, the resulting disappointment creates a memory far more powerful than any lecture. As seen in Tishan Worst Moment, the child’s distress over losing the winning ticket teaches an unforgettable lesson about accountability. These moments stick because the emotional impact is real.

3. It Prepares Them for Adulthood

No one sails through life without difficulty. Jobs are lost, relationships end, and plans fall apart. Children who never experience failure are dangerously unprepared for reality. By facing small “worst moments” early—with parental support—kids learn that disappointment is survivable. They discover that even after a terrible day, life continues, and new opportunities emerge.

4. It Encourages Problem-Solving

When something goes wrong, children have a choice: shut down or problem-solve. Experiencing failure pushes them to ask important questions: What happened? What could I have done differently? How can I fix this? These problem-solving skills translate directly into academic success, stronger friendships, and future career readiness.

How to Support Your Child Through Their “Worst Moment”

1. Validate, Don’t Minimize

When your child is devastated, avoid saying, “It’s not a big deal.” To them, it is enormous. Instead, acknowledge the feeling: “I can see how upset you are. This feels really hard right now.” Validation helps children feel understood, which is the first step toward emotional regulation.

2. Resist the Urge to Rescue

It is tempting to call the teacher, replace the lost item, or fix the situation. But rescuing robs your child of growth. Instead, ask guiding questions: “What do you think you should do next?” Let them sit with the discomfort briefly before stepping in with help.

3. Share Your Own Stories

Children benefit from knowing that adults also experience “worst moments.” Share an age-appropriate story from your own childhood when you lost something, failed a test, or felt deeply disappointed. Explain how you felt and what you learned. This normalizes failure and reduces shame.

4. Focus on the Lesson, Not the Loss

After the immediate emotion passes, help your child identify one thing they can learn. Ask: “What might you do differently next time?” or “Is there anything good that came from this?” The goal is not to erase the bad memory but to extract wisdom from it.

5. Maintain Connection

Disappointment can feel isolating. Let your child know they are loved regardless of their mistake. A simple statement like, “I love you even when things go wrong,” provides the safety net that allows risk-taking and growth.

The Balance: Protection vs. Preparation

Of course, this does not mean parents should manufacture failure or stand by during genuine trauma. The goal is not to harm but to allow natural, age-appropriate consequences to occur. A lost lottery ticket, a forgotten permission slip, or a broken toy due to carelessness—these are low-stakes failures with high learning value.

As Chinwe Ibeh illustrates in Tishan Worst Moment, even a child’s most distressing experience can become a turning point for maturity. The book reminds us that while parents want to shield their children, sometimes the greatest kindness is to let them feel the weight of their own actions—and then help them rise again.

Conclusion

No parent wants to watch their child suffer. But shielding children from every disappointment ultimately weakens them. The “worst moment” is not something to fear; it is something to walk through together. By allowing small failures, validating big feelings, and guiding without rescuing, you raise a child who knows how to fall and how to get back up.

If you want to explore this theme further with your child, consider reading Tishan Worst Moment by Chinwe Ibeh. The story follows a young girl whose summer of small disappointments culminates in losing something truly precious. It is an accessible, relatable way to open a conversation about responsibility, resilience, and learning from our worst moments.