--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a tendency to coddle my sons…" description: "\"I have a tendency to coddle my sons because I want to keep them safe, but I also want them to be strong and independent and curious and bold, and I wor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21c/jennifer-egan-825_be-strong_i-have-a-tendency-to-coddle-my-sons-beca_2883182.jpg" --- # I have a tendency to coddle my sons because I want to keep… ![“I have a tendency to coddle my sons because I want to keep them safe, but I also want them to be strong and independent and curious and bold, and I worry that my coddling is going to have exactly the opposite effect.” quote by Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21c/jennifer-egan-825_be-strong_i-have-a-tendency-to-coddle-my-sons-beca_2883182.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21c/jennifer-egan-825_be-strong_i-have-a-tendency-to-coddle-my-sons-beca_2883182.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21c/jennifer-egan-825_be-strong_i-have-a-tendency-to-coddle-my-sons-beca_2883182.jpg) > “I have a tendency to coddle my sons because I want to keep them safe, but I also want them to be strong and independent and curious and bold, and I worry that my coddling is going to have exactly the opposite effect.” [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She worries that overprotective parenting may unintentionally produce weak, dependent children, contrary to her intentions. **In simple terms:** Overprotective parenting can backfire. Key Takeaway Balance safety with fostering independence. Themes parenting development psychology Mood thoughtful concerned Type parental developmental When to use this quote - family dynamics - education policy - child development - personal growth Key Concepts attachment theory independence training Questions to Reflect On - What strategies promote resilient children? - How to set boundaries without stifling? A Different Perspective May ignore cultural parenting norms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-strong/) [Bold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bold/) [Bold Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bold-worry-4007498/) [Coddling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coddling-1547593/) [Coddling Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coddling-going-4007497/) [Curious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curious/) [Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/) [Tendency Coddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendency-coddle-4007496/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Worry Coddling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry-coddling-4007495/) ## Related quotes > [When you're a mother hen, you sometimes coddle your children. But there are different ways of coddling. Some coddle with luxury, others with love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-knobloch/when-you-re-a-mother-hen-you-sometimes-coddle-your-children-but-there/) [Charlotte Knobloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-knobloch/) > [I don't know what happened to the millennials. I think too much coddling is not a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-layfield/i-don-t-know-what-happened-to-the-millennials-i-think-too-much/) [John Layfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-layfield/) > [“Trust me dear I understand I understand how painful life can be Pain can drive you into the darkest place I have been there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabashe-pillay/trust-me-dear-i-understand-i-understand-how-painful-life-can-be-pain/) [Kabashe Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabashe-pillay/) > [When the storms of life come, if they come to me personally, to my family or to the world, I want to be strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/when-the-storms-of-life-come-if-they-come-to-me-personally-to-my/) [Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/) > [A strong girl keeps her stuff in line, and with tears running down her face, she still manages to whisper the simple words, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-strong-girl-keeps-her-stuff-in-line-and-with-tears-running-down-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now my goal is to be strong. I get two classes in a week, and they'll be either barre or reformer Pilates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-foster-blake/now-my-goal-is-to-be-strong-i-get-two-classes-in-a-week-and-they-ll/) [Zoe Foster Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-foster-blake/) > [Never ever give up , try to hold on as much as you can ¥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/never-ever-give-up-try-to-hold-on-as-much-as-you-can/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [I don't want to see the dollar strong because the rest of the world is crumbling. I would like to see the dollar strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-malpass/i-don-t-want-to-see-the-dollar-strong-because-the-rest-of-the-world/) [David Malpass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-malpass/) > [My mum passing away wasn't funny, but that funeral and what I went through, the things that happened, looking back at it, there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/my-mum-passing-away-wasn-t-funny-but-that-funeral-and-what-i-went/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [Girls should empower themselves and be strong enough to protect themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhea-chakraborty/girls-should-empower-themselves-and-be-strong-enough-to-protect/) [Rhea Chakraborty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhea-chakraborty/) > [Europe cannot be only the receiver of strategic decisions of others, that is China or the U.S.A. We have to be strong ourselves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/europe-cannot-be-only-the-receiver-of-strategic-decisions-of-others/) [Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/) > [Of Moving Forward With Your Life In Spite Of Your Past.. Forgiving Yourself Even When Other's Won't. Waking Up Everyday With The Intention Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/of-moving-forward-with-your-life-in-spite-of-your-past-forgiving/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [Since my family is in the public eye, we've got to be strong, we've got to support each other, and we've got to stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/since-my-family-is-in-the-public-eye-we-ve-got-to-be-strong-we-ve-got/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [If you play for Manchester United, you have to be strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-evra/if-you-play-for-manchester-united-you-have-to-be-strong/) [Patrice Evra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-evra/) > [No government can be strong and flourishing while the national character is weak and degraded. A government must flourish and decay with its subjects;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-robbins-curtis/no-government-can-be-strong-and-flourishing-while-the-national/) [Benjamin Robbins Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-robbins-curtis/) ## More by Jennifer Egan > [“Behind the desk was nothing but view-the whole city flung out in front of us the way street vendors fling out their towels packed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/behind-the-desk-was-nothing-but-view-the-whole-city-flung-out-in/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I just think that, for my particular personality, feeling slightly invisible is always a help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-just-think-that-for-my-particular-personality-feeling-slightly/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Between books, I have to throw out everything I did before, because the tools I've used to write the previous book will not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/between-books-i-have-to-throw-out-everything-i-did-before-because-the/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [As a reader and a writer, I'm happiest when apparently mutually exclusive states can somehow coexist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/as-a-reader-and-a-writer-i-m-happiest-when-apparently-mutually/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I teach intermittently, and while I enjoy it, I don't find that it's a calling for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-teach-intermittently-and-while-i-enjoy-it-i-don-t-find-that-it-s-a/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Like all failed experiments, that one taught me something I didn’t expect: one key ingredient of so-called experience is the delusional faith that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/like-all-failed-experiments-that-one-taught-me-something-i-didn-t/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“Thousands of solar panels lift and tilt at the same time, in the same way. I clutch at Dad's arm: "Why are they doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/thousands-of-solar-panels-lift-and-tilt-at-the-same-time-in-the-same/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [It was the hat. He looked sweet in the hat. How could a man in a fuzzy blue hat have used human bones to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/it-was-the-hat-he-looked-sweet-in-the-hat-how-could-a-man-in-a-fuzzy/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I was a stepchild in two different families. The hardest thing about being a stepchild is you know that in some way everything would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-was-a-stepchild-in-two-different-families-the-hardest-thing-about/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“The seconds pass. I know what’s going on because it’s the same thing that always happens: give me something nice, something I love or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/the-seconds-pass-i-know-what-s-going-on-because-it-s-the-same-thing/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I had this idea that I could hire myself out as a person to go on archeological digs and dig, without any training! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-had-this-idea-that-i-could-hire-myself-out-as-a-person-to-go-on/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [At night, the house thick with sleep, she would peer out her bedroom window at the trees and sky and feel the presence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/at-night-the-house-thick-with-sleep-she-would-peer-out-her-bedroom/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I number my drafts, and by the time a book is done, I'll have 75 or 80 drafts of some sections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-number-my-drafts-and-by-the-time-a-book-is-done-i-ll-have-75-or-80/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Read at the level at which you want to write. Reading is the nourishment that feeds the kind of writing you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/read-at-the-level-at-which-you-want-to-write-reading-is-the/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I was a stepchild in two different families. The hardest thing about being a stepchild is you know that in some way everything would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-was-a-stepchild-in-two-different-families-the-hardest-thing-about-2/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) [Explore all 358 Jennifer Egan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) ## More Be strong quotes > [No government can be strong and flourishing while the national character is weak and degraded. A government must flourish and decay with its subjects;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-robbins-curtis/no-government-can-be-strong-and-flourishing-while-the-national/) [Benjamin Robbins Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-robbins-curtis/) > [If you play for Manchester United, you have to be strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-evra/if-you-play-for-manchester-united-you-have-to-be-strong/) [Patrice Evra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-evra/) > [Since my family is in the public eye, we've got to be strong, we've got to support each other, and we've got to stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/since-my-family-is-in-the-public-eye-we-ve-got-to-be-strong-we-ve-got/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [Of Moving Forward With Your Life In Spite Of Your Past.. Forgiving Yourself Even When Other's Won't. Waking Up Everyday With The Intention Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/of-moving-forward-with-your-life-in-spite-of-your-past-forgiving/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [Europe cannot be only the receiver of strategic decisions of others, that is China or the U.S.A. We have to be strong ourselves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/europe-cannot-be-only-the-receiver-of-strategic-decisions-of-others/) [Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annegret-kramp-karrenbauer/) > [Girls should empower themselves and be strong enough to protect themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhea-chakraborty/girls-should-empower-themselves-and-be-strong-enough-to-protect/) [Rhea Chakraborty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhea-chakraborty/) > [My mum passing away wasn't funny, but that funeral and what I went through, the things that happened, looking back at it, there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/my-mum-passing-away-wasn-t-funny-but-that-funeral-and-what-i-went/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [I don't want to see the dollar strong because the rest of the world is crumbling. I would like to see the dollar strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-malpass/i-don-t-want-to-see-the-dollar-strong-because-the-rest-of-the-world/) [David Malpass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-malpass/) > [Never ever give up , try to hold on as much as you can ¥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/never-ever-give-up-try-to-hold-on-as-much-as-you-can/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [Now my goal is to be strong. I get two classes in a week, and they'll be either barre or reformer Pilates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-foster-blake/now-my-goal-is-to-be-strong-i-get-two-classes-in-a-week-and-they-ll/) [Zoe Foster Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-foster-blake/) > [A strong girl keeps her stuff in line, and with tears running down her face, she still manages to whisper the simple words, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-strong-girl-keeps-her-stuff-in-line-and-with-tears-running-down-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the storms of life come, if they come to me personally, to my family or to the world, I want to be strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/when-the-storms-of-life-come-if-they-come-to-me-personally-to-my/) [Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/) > [“Trust me dear I understand I understand how painful life can be Pain can drive you into the darkest place I have been there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabashe-pillay/trust-me-dear-i-understand-i-understand-how-painful-life-can-be-pain/) [Kabashe Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabashe-pillay/) > [I guess I was built strong for a lot of reasons, but I guess one of them was so I could stand alone and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-guess-i-was-built-strong-for-a-lot-of-reasons-but-i-guess-one-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“How could I understand my weaknesses if my strength had not been tested?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-beckstrand/how-could-i-understand-my-weaknesses-if-my-strength-had-not-been/) [Jennifer Beckstrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-beckstrand/) [Browse all 212 Be strong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-strong/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a tendency to coddle my sons because I want to keep them safe, but I also want them to be strong and independent and curious and bold, and I worry that my coddling is going to have exactly the opposite effect.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jennifer Egan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-have-a-tendency-to-coddle-my-sons-because-i-want-to-keep-them-safe/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be strong" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-have-a-tendency-to-coddle-my-sons-because-i-want-to-keep-them-safe/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21c/jennifer-egan-825_be-strong_i-have-a-tendency-to-coddle-my-sons-beca_2883182.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21c/jennifer-egan-825_be-strong_i-have-a-tendency-to-coddle-my-sons-beca_2883182.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21c/jennifer-egan-825_be-strong_i-have-a-tendency-to-coddle-my-sons-beca_2883182.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have a tendency to coddle my sons because I want to keep them safe, but I also want them to be strong and…” — Jennifer Egan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jennifer Egan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have a tendency to coddle...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-have-a-tendency-to-coddle-my-sons-because-i-want-to-keep-them-safe/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-have-a-tendency-to-coddle-my-sons-because-i-want-to-keep-them-safe/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```