---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I worry about my children, actually. I'm…"
description: "\"I worry about my children, actually. I'm trying to give them a decent upbringing but I sometimes worry that that means they're going to be kind of medi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/romesh-ranganathan-5408_adversity_i-worry-about-my-children-actually-i-m-t_404040.jpg"
---

#  I worry about my children, actually. I'm trying to give…

![“I worry about my children, actually. I'm trying to give them a decent upbringing but I sometimes worry that that means they're going to be kind of mediocre adults. Like maybe I should throw them out for a bit and give them some adversity.” quote by Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/romesh-ranganathan-5408_adversity_i-worry-about-my-children-actually-i-m-t_404040.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/romesh-ranganathan-5408_adversity_i-worry-about-my-children-actually-i-m-t_404040.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/romesh-ranganathan-5408_adversity_i-worry-about-my-children-actually-i-m-t_404040.jpg)

> “I worry about my children, actually. I'm trying to give them a decent upbringing but I sometimes worry that that means they're going to be kind of mediocre adults. Like maybe I should throw them out for a bit and give them some adversity.”

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Parental concern about children's future may lead to overprotectiveness; exposing them to challenges can foster resilience, but balance is key.

**In simple terms:** Worrying about kids can cause overprotectiveness; challenges build strength.

Key Takeaway

Provide measured challenges, not harsh adversity.

Themes

parenting anxiety resilience

Mood

concerned thoughtful

Type

parenting advice

When to use this quote

- raising children
- education
- life skills
- adversity training

Key Concepts

developmental psychology risk-reward balance

Questions to Reflect On

- What challenges are appropriate for your child's age?
- How can you support them without overprotecting?

A Different Perspective

Too much adversity can cause trauma; too little may hinder growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Upbringing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upbringing/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/)

## Related quotes

> [Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/don-t-worry-that-children-never-listen-to-you-worry-that-they-are/)

[Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/)

> [“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you. ROBERT FULGHUM”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/don-t-worry-that-children-never-listen-to-you-worry-that-they-are-3/)

[Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/)

> [Not having children is one less worry. Children are a worry!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-calment/not-having-children-is-one-less-worry-children-are-a-worry/)

[Jeanne Calment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-calment/)

> [Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you. - Robert Fulghum Your children will become what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bly/don-t-worry-that-children-never-listen-to-you-worry-that-they-are-2/)

David Bly

> [I think the U.S. is terrifying and it saddens me. You only have to look at the state of affairs in America. I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/i-think-the-u-s-is-terrifying-and-it-saddens-me-you-only-have-to-look/)

[Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/)

> [A lot of people worry much too much about what their children are reading... If a child picks up a book and reads something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/a-lot-of-people-worry-much-too-much-about-what-their-children-are/)

[Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/)

> [What if airplane pilots said, 'my first three years were a wreck'? We worry about the safety of people at the hands of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah/what-if-airplane-pilots-said-my-first-three-years-were-a-wreck-we/)

Deborah

> [It's so nice not to worry about myself anymore. I only worry about my children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/it-s-so-nice-not-to-worry-about-myself-anymore-i-only-worry-about-my/)

[Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/)

> [Most people don't know me, that is why they write such things in which most is not true. I cry very very often because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/most-people-don-t-know-me-that-is-why-they-write-such-things-in-which/)

[Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/)

> [“People write books for children and other people write about the books written for children but I don't think it's for the children at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-hoban/people-write-books-for-children-and-other-people-write-about-the/)

[Russell Hoban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-hoban/)

> [I worry my own children may not even get a shot at living their American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/i-worry-my-own-children-may-not-even-get-a-shot-at-living-their/)

[Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/)

> [I think that children that are acting are always pretty savvy anyway because you're conducting yourself around adults a lot of the time, aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-jensen/i-think-that-children-that-are-acting-are-always-pretty-savvy-anyway/)

[Ashley Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-jensen/)

> [I worry about my children worrying about me, feeling like they need to be the strong ones. It's not the right order of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/i-worry-about-my-children-worrying-about-me-feeling-like-they-need-to/)

[Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/)

> [“Never worry about a book corrupting a child. Worry if your children are not getting ideas from books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/never-worry-about-a-book-corrupting-a-child-worry-if-your-children/)

[Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/)

> [As an African-American parent, we have to really, really worry about our children and how our children are perceived in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-martin/as-an-african-american-parent-we-have-to-really-really-worry-about/)

[Tracy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-martin/)

## More by Romesh Ranganathan

> [“Yeah, I said it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/yeah-i-said-it/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [Years later, when I was working as a trolley wally in a supermarket, I tackled the boredom by talking to the customers in as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/years-later-when-i-was-working-as-a-trolley-wally-in-a-supermarket-i/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [I owe much of my success to Seann Walsh. He kept recommending me for Live At The Apollo until eventually the producers offered me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-owe-much-of-my-success-to-seann-walsh-he-kept-recommending-me-for/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [It's much easier for the vegan to remain at home and do their own Christmas dinner. That way, you can enjoy your food without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/it-s-much-easier-for-the-vegan-to-remain-at-home-and-do-their-own/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [My obsession with hip-hop has given me an addiction to trainers, which are very much a young person's game, and I am known to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/my-obsession-with-hip-hop-has-given-me-an-addiction-to-trainers-which/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [My childhood memories are filled with hugs and kisses from both my mum and dad. My mum has a thing about kissing you an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/my-childhood-memories-are-filled-with-hugs-and-kisses-from-both-my/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [I don't believe in make-or-break moments in your life. If you screw something up, it can knock you down, but that only means you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-don-t-believe-in-make-or-break-moments-in-your-life-if-you-screw/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [I will admit to being slightly embarrassed that I am getting tattoos relatively late in life. Tattoos are meant to be something you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-will-admit-to-being-slightly-embarrassed-that-i-am-getting-tattoos/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [New Year's resolutions have always been something to beat myself up with by the second week of January. It seems perverse to set yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/new-year-s-resolutions-have-always-been-something-to-beat-myself-up/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [I know you're supposed to love yourself, but I really hate the way I look. When I look in the mirror I'm so disgusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-know-you-re-supposed-to-love-yourself-but-i-really-hate-the-way-i/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [Our house was repossessed and we lived in a B&amp;B until we got a council house. It was a struggle, but Mum just got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/our-house-was-repossessed-and-we-lived-in-a-b-b-until-we-got-a/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [I have never worried about having my finger on the pulse, because I consume music and cinema voraciously, and assumed that meant I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-have-never-worried-about-having-my-finger-on-the-pulse-because-i/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [If you're racist and you come out and say it's because of Brexit, then great. Then I know definitely not to talk to you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/if-you-re-racist-and-you-come-out-and-say-it-s-because-of-brexit-then/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [I would not have succeeded as a comedian had I not had some hugely lucky breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-would-not-have-succeeded-as-a-comedian-had-i-not-had-some-hugely/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

> [I've done bits where I've perhaps talked about my kids annoying me and you hope that the audience realise that you do actually love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-ve-done-bits-where-i-ve-perhaps-talked-about-my-kids-annoying-me/)

[Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

[Explore all 101 Romesh Ranganathan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/)

## More Adversity quotes

> [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/)

[Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/)

> [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/)

[Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/)

> [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/)

[George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/)

> [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/)

[Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/)

> [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/)

[Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/)

> [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/)

[Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/)

> [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/)

James Buckham Kennedy

> [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/)

[Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/)

> [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/)

[Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/)

> [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/)

S.E. SEVER

> [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I worry about my children, actually. I'm trying to give them a decent upbringing but I sometimes worry that that means they're going to be kind of mediocre adults. Like maybe I should throw them out for a bit and give them some adversity.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Romesh Ranganathan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-worry-about-my-children-actually-i-m-trying-to-give-them-a-decent/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adversity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-worry-about-my-children-actually-i-m-trying-to-give-them-a-decent/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/romesh-ranganathan-5408_adversity_i-worry-about-my-children-actually-i-m-t_404040.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/romesh-ranganathan-5408_adversity_i-worry-about-my-children-actually-i-m-t_404040.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/romesh-ranganathan-5408_adversity_i-worry-about-my-children-actually-i-m-t_404040.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I worry about my children, actually. I'm trying to give them a decent upbringing but I sometimes worry that…” — Romesh Ranganathan",
                "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": "Romesh Ranganathan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I worry about my children, actually....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-worry-about-my-children-actually-i-m-trying-to-give-them-a-decent/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-worry-about-my-children-actually-i-m-trying-to-give-them-a-decent/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
